ESPN Olney: Cards are exchanging names for Helsley

[moose-and-squirrel]

Helsley is obviously on the block. JoJo and Maton rumors are out there. Who is going to close games in STL after the trade deadline?

Obrien.. he's looked very good

[An Old Friend]

At this rate maybe just keep him and offer QO and take the extra draft pick

And when he accepts the QO, you’ve gotten nothing for him and are paying $20MM for a closer when ownership wants to lower payroll.

[Imperial Capitalist]

ESPN Buster Olney reporting today :


on Tuesday morning, multiple executives said the Cardinals are exchanging names and appear devoted to moving Helsley, though the offers for him might not be as robust as they had hoped.

I’m not surprised they aren’t robust the time to move him was in the offseason when he had just finished a great season and they could get a full season from him. Now he’s had a less than great season with a fast ball that now gets crushed and he’s a two month rental

The time to trade him was last year.

He was having a season for the ages. Combining that with the likelihood that Bloom's ?road map to redemption? had already been laid out, why squander the maximum potential return possible for Helsley's services?

[hugeCardfan]

I think the return is going to really disappoint those who think he's bringing back a Top 100 MB prospect, never happening.

He's the one guy who deserves a top 100 MB prospect. If teams aren't desperate enough....don't trade. I see no benefit to virtually give him away. Proffer a QO. He might decline for a 5 year deal somewhere and we could extend him over the winter ourselves....

Nope

If he had years of control and was dealt in the past offseason but NOT at this time.

Deal him for whatever you can get now.

If he's serious and would take a team friendly deal, then bring him back if Bloom wants him.

There's no value in trading him for a bag of balls. Teams in the hunt gotta pay or shouldn't get him. Period.

[Ozziesfan41]

I think the return is going to really disappoint those who think he's bringing back a Top 100 MB prospect, never happening.

He's the one guy who deserves a top 100 MB prospect. If teams aren't desperate enough....don't trade. I see no benefit to virtually give him away. Proffer a QO. He might decline for a 5 year deal somewhere and we could extend him over the winter ourselves....

Nope

If he had years of control and was dealt in the past offseason but NOT at this time.

Deal him for whatever you can get now.

If he's serious and would take a team friendly deal, then bring him back if Bloom wants him.

There's no value in trading him for a bag of balls. Teams in the hunt gotta pay or shouldn't get him. Period.

Then cards won’t get anything for him that would be stupid

[Carp4Cy]

At this rate maybe just keep him and offer QO and take the extra draft pick

And when he accepts the QO, you’ve gotten nothing for him and are paying $20MM for a closer when ownership wants to lower payroll.

Tell him to agree to decline it. And if he accepts then he owes us 150 IP and will have to start.

[rockondlouie]

I think the return is going to really disappoint those who think he's bringing back a Top 100 MB prospect, never happening.

He's the one guy who deserves a top 100 MB prospect. If teams aren't desperate enough....don't trade. I see no benefit to virtually give him away. Proffer a QO. He might decline for a 5 year deal somewhere and we could extend him over the winter ourselves....

Nope

If he had years of control and was dealt in the past offseason but NOT at this time.

Deal him for whatever you can get now.

If he's serious and would take a team friendly deal, then bring him back if Bloom wants him.

There's no value in trading him for a bag of balls. Teams in the hunt gotta pay or shouldn't get him. Period.

Won't be a bag of balls.

Hopefully you can get a "teams" Top 5 prospect for him!

[rockondlouie]

I think the return is going to really disappoint those who think he's bringing back a Top 100 MB prospect, never happening.

Maybe they can work out a handshake to decline the QO if he’s not traded. He’s going to want the multi year contract.

And he's earned one

I'd deal him C4C.........get the prospect(s)............and if BDWJr/Bloom want him back, then negotiate w/him this winter.

he's already come out the other day and said "I would love to sign back here".

[Ozziesfan41]

I think the return is going to really disappoint those who think he's bringing back a Top 100 MB prospect, never happening.

Maybe they can work out a handshake to decline the QO if he’s not traded. He’s going to want the multi year contract.

And he's earned one

I'd deal him C4C.........get the prospect(s)............and if BDWJr/Bloom want him back, then negotiate w/him this winter.

he's already come out the other day and said "I would love to sign back here".

Just about every free agent says that they would love to come back what they mean is they will come back if they are the top bidder and the cardinals aren’t going to be remotely close to the top bidder. Cards aren’t investing money in a closer and its stupid to invest in a closer anyway

[rockondlouie]

I think the return is going to really disappoint those who think he's bringing back a Top 100 MB prospect, never happening.

Maybe they can work out a handshake to decline the QO if he’s not traded. He’s going to want the multi year contract.

And he's earned one

I'd deal him C4C.........get the prospect(s)............and if BDWJr/Bloom want him back, then negotiate w/him this winter.

he's already come out the other day and said "I would love to sign back here".

Just about every free agent says that they would love to come back what they mean is they will come back if they are the top bidder and the cardinals aren’t going to be remotely close to the top bidder. Cards aren’t investing money in a closer and its stupid to invest in a closer anyway

Stupid?

Wait till you see how many games are blown next year when they don't have one.

[ramfandan]

I think the return is going to really disappoint those who think he's bringing back a Top 100 MB prospect, never happening.

Maybe they can work out a handshake to decline the QO if he’s not traded. He’s going to want the multi year contract.

And he's earned one

I'd deal him C4C.........get the prospect(s)............and if BDWJr/Bloom want him back, then negotiate w/him this winter.

he's already come out the other day and said "I would love to sign back here".

Just about every free agent says that they would love to come back what they mean is they will come back if they are the top bidder and the cardinals aren’t going to be remotely close to the top bidder. Cards aren’t investing money in a closer and its stupid to invest in a closer anyway

Well, not necessarily have to be the top bidder . Many fans want to think that the very best offer always gets the guy but other factors play into that . For example, Helsley may prefer to stay in St. Louis due to his wife's job. She is an optomotrist and has her medical practice in O'Fallon area. Sure she has a regular clientele and may want to remain if she likes her work situation there.
I knew a pro football free agent who didn't take the highest offer either .. remember Ram OG Adam Timmerman he was Packer player free agent and signed with Rams... had met his wife .. she told me that Eagles had best offer but Adam picked the Rams as he would be closer to his family farm in NW Iowa , whose Dad and brother worked the farm with Adam working it in offseason . Wife was from Iowa too and liked being closer to family , so example of highest money does not always win the day . People think so though .

[VegasVinny]

At this rate maybe just keep him and offer QO and take the extra draft pick

And when he accepts the QO, you’ve gotten nothing for him and are paying $20MM for a closer when ownership wants to lower payroll.

Yeah, this is the worst case scenario.

Reports are starting to appear the org is aiming to lower payroll even further in 2026. A team with that defeatist of an approach will not need a competent closer.

Let’s face it: the Cards - along with many other teams - are bracing for a work stoppage in 2027, so what’s the incentive in outdoing the Pittsburgh Pirates before then?

[Ozziesfan41]

I think the return is going to really disappoint those who think he's bringing back a Top 100 MB prospect, never happening.

Maybe they can work out a handshake to decline the QO if he’s not traded. He’s going to want the multi year contract.

And he's earned one

I'd deal him C4C.........get the prospect(s)............and if BDWJr/Bloom want him back, then negotiate w/him this winter.

he's already come out the other day and said "I would love to sign back here".

Just about every free agent says that they would love to come back what they mean is they will come back if they are the top bidder and the cardinals aren’t going to be remotely close to the top bidder. Cards aren’t investing money in a closer and its stupid to invest in a closer anyway

Stupid?

Wait till you see how many games are blown next year when they don't have one.

lol people said the same thing in 2006 and 2011 when they went to first time closers because other veteran established closers failed. Closers are replaceable. Spending a lot of money on closers is dumb for a team that doesn’t have big payrolls. And teams are hitting like .400 against his fast ball he’s blown more saves already than he did all of last season he’s far from lights out the chances of him regressing even more next season are pretty good stay far away from signing him

[imetsatchelpaige]

Passan: The number of teams that want high-leverage relief pitchers -- and the relative paucity of them on the market. St. Louis' Ryan Helsley is the top rental option.

[Horseradish]

And what is the big deal if they don't trade him...

Missed opportunity to acquire a prospect or two that might help later on? Shouldn’t be too difficult to figure out, you’re being obtuse as usual.

What if the prospects are more meh? Prior to last year, Helsley had 33 saves across 2 years.

He blows up last year and now has the highest WHIP and ERA of his career...

Do you think teams are noticing that???

So your argument is that they shouldn’t trade Helsley because the return won’t be as good as it would’ve been last year? You’ve said all along that they didn’t trade him in the offseason because they didn’t get any decent offers (which is pure speculation on your part) and now you’re saying they won’t get any offers so why bother. Excuses for being lazy is what I’m seeing from you.

[Ozziesfan41]

And what is the big deal if they don't trade him...

Missed opportunity to acquire a prospect or two that might help later on? Shouldn’t be too difficult to figure out, you’re being obtuse as usual.

What if the prospects are more meh? Prior to last year, Helsley had 33 saves across 2 years.

He blows up last year and now has the highest WHIP and ERA of his career...

Do you think teams are noticing that???

So your argument is that they shouldn’t trade Helsley because the return won’t be as good as it would’ve been last year? You’ve said all along that they didn’t trade him in the offseason because they didn’t get any decent offers (which is pure speculation on your part) and now you’re saying they won’t get any offers so why bother. Excuses for being lazy is what I’m seeing from you.

He agrees with whatever the front office does except for some reason he hates all the players mo puts the team together with