Ryan Helsley

[scoutyjones2]

Absolutely worth the risk in bringing him back assuming the contract is reasonable. Young with a great arm, velocity and breaking ball. Loves the team and the city.

No. CT always wants ex-Cards back. I don't get it. He has one great year

When was that one year? 2022 - 1.25 ERA and 0.74 WHIP, an all-star appearance and 12th in CY Young voting? or when he set the Cards single season save record in 2024? Or did you mean 2023 when he had a 2.45 ERA? Bombed with the Mets in half of this season, but had 21 saves and a 3.00 with us.

Career ERA still under 3 after 7 seasons, yet only one good year?

4.5 ERA and a 1.536 WHIP last year.


Prior year was a career great year.

He threw 36 innings in 2023

[Ronnie Dobbs]

I like Helsley, but he'll be 31 and this is maybe the only time he'll have a chance at getting a big money deal. He would be smart and take the biggest deal he's offered.

Although there's a chance that last year ended so bad for him that he has to settle for a 1 year deal. I guess if that's the case and if the money was right, it couldn't hurt to bring him back. You could always trade him at the deadline again.

[JuanAgosto]

I'd be more interested in Maton than Helsley. And that interest is light.

[No-Mo-Mo]

Absolutely worth the risk in bringing him back assuming the contract is reasonable. Young with a great arm, velocity and breaking ball. Loves the team and the city.

Absolutely Not

[ecleme22]

Hensley can be a really good get for a playoff team wanting to grab a really good arm on a one year deal.

Problem w Helsley, is his Mets era will make teams buyer beware if a team wants to flip him in 2026.

So if the Bo Sox want to give him 8mil next year as a setup guy, let that happen. Move on…

[Ozziesfan41]

Hensley can be a really good get for a playoff team wanting to grab a really good arm on a one year deal.

Problem w Helsley, is his Mets era will make teams buyer beware if a team wants to flip him in 2026.

So if the Bo Sox want to give him 8mil next year as a setup guy, let that happen. Move on…

Agree he will definitely get 8 million plus if the cardinals are gambling on their limited budget I hope it’s for starters coming off injuries who have high upside instead of a potential closer who they don’t need

[ecleme22]

Hensley can be a really good get for a playoff team wanting to grab a really good arm on a one year deal.

Problem w Helsley, is his Mets era will make teams buyer beware if a team wants to flip him in 2026.

So if the Bo Sox want to give him 8mil next year as a setup guy, let that happen. Move on…

Agree he will definitely get 8 million plus if the cardinals are gambling on their limited budget I hope it’s for starters coming off injuries who have high upside instead of a potential closer who they don’t need

Helsley would be a decent flippable option. Trouble is, 2025 happened. Not sure gms want to go there. Or at least give up a nice return.

I’m down for a high reward guy. Possibly Devin Williams? But Helsley, no.

[cardsrmyteam]

Hope is not a strategy and nostalgia does not win championships. He's gone, let's get over it.

[scoutyjones2]

Hensley can be a really good get for a playoff team wanting to grab a really good arm on a one year deal.

Problem w Helsley, is his Mets era will make teams buyer beware if a team wants to flip him in 2026.

So if the Bo Sox want to give him 8mil next year as a setup guy, let that happen. Move on…

Agree he will definitely get 8 million plus if the cardinals are gambling on their limited budget I hope it’s for starters coming off injuries who have high upside instead of a potential closer who they don’t need

Helsley would be a decent flippable option. Trouble is, 2025 happened. Not sure gms want to go there. Or at least give up a nice return.

I’m down for a high reward guy. Possibly Devin Williams? But Helsley, no.

Devin Williams?! 4.79 ERA. Made $9 million last year

Not gonna happen

[ecleme22]

Hensley can be a really good get for a playoff team wanting to grab a really good arm on a one year deal.

Problem w Helsley, is his Mets era will make teams buyer beware if a team wants to flip him in 2026.

So if the Bo Sox want to give him 8mil next year as a setup guy, let that happen. Move on…

Agree he will definitely get 8 million plus if the cardinals are gambling on their limited budget I hope it’s for starters coming off injuries who have high upside instead of a potential closer who they don’t need

Helsley would be a decent flippable option. Trouble is, 2025 happened. Not sure gms want to go there. Or at least give up a nice return.

I’m down for a high reward guy. Possibly Devin Williams? But Helsley, no.

Devin Williams?! 4.79 ERA. Made $9 million last year

Not gonna happen

What’s your logic?

Because the numbers you gave could imply his cost will be a lot lower in 2026…

[Carp4Cy]

If we are indeed in a rebuild, why are we not turning the closer and setup roles over to O’Brien and Svanson?

If that’s the case, why do you want Helsley back at at price?

This is a mindset shift from the past of trying to be half contenders to get 80 plus wins. Need to go all in with a rebuild and bank on development and high draft picks over wins for next season.

Can Svanson hit 103?

No but according to Baseball Savant he:

-hits 96.8 mph (86% tile)
-posted a 29.1% strikeout rate (88% tile)

39 G
1.94 ERA
0.88 WHiP

And all that came at $760,000!

Not sure that’s closer material. The league is gonna figure out 97 a lot faster then they figure out 103.

[rockondlouie]

If we are indeed in a rebuild, why are we not turning the closer and setup roles over to O’Brien and Svanson?

If that’s the case, why do you want Helsley back at at price?

This is a mindset shift from the past of trying to be half contenders to get 80 plus wins. Need to go all in with a rebuild and bank on development and high draft picks over wins for next season.

Can Svanson hit 103?

No but according to Baseball Savant he:

-hits 96.8 mph (86% tile)
-posted a 29.1% strikeout rate (88% tile)

39 G
1.94 ERA
0.88 WHiP

And all that came at $760,000!

Not sure that’s closer material. The league is gonna figure out 97 a lot faster then they figure out 103.

He may not be the 2026 solo closer, I foresee a bullen by committee approach.

Movement is just as important as velo and he's got some solid movement on his pitches.

I wouldn't get so hung up on 103 mph velo (not even sure Helsley will hold that top speed much longer).

Even at that speed hitters can time it if it's straight.

[TraveledLessRoad]

I don't feel like Helsley is going to be nearly as "cheap" as some think. I mean, we saw his decline firsthand, as did the Mets. But other teams around baseball are going to see his age, his track record, and his velocity and throw some dough at that. This isn't going to be a Phil Maton type deal. I say he gets something like 8 mill a year for 3 years. 24 mil total

[Adam2]

Absolutely worth the risk in bringing him back assuming the contract is reasonable. Young with a great arm, velocity and breaking ball. Loves the team and the city.

not young

[OldRed]

Sounds like many missed the memo . . . they will be going cheap and filling positions from within.

[Ozziesfan41]

I don't feel like Helsley is going to be nearly as "cheap" as some think. I mean, we saw his decline firsthand, as did the Mets. But other teams around baseball are going to see his age, his track record, and his velocity and throw some dough at that. This isn't going to be a Phil Maton type deal. I say he gets something like 8 mill a year for 3 years. 24 mil total

Agree dodgers will throw that much at him or a one year 15 million dollar deal or so because why not they don’t care if he sucks they can just cut him and eat the money it doesn’t matter to them and if it works then have one more answer for their bullpen woes