Cardinals Facing Key $40 Million Offseason Decision

"The Cardinals sent Helsley to the Mets at the deadline, and his season went south from there. He went 0-3 with a 7.20 ERA in 22 appearances with New York. This almost certainly means he won’t get the multi-year deal he was hoping for this offseason," Bishop wrote. "But we’ve all seen what he can do when he’s right. He’s only a year removed from being the NL Reliever of the Year and setting a franchise record with 49 saves. The 31-year-old right-hander and two-time All-Star’s value has certainly fallen since the trade to the Mets, which means he is likely to receive nothing more than a one-year, 'prove-it' deal.

"He never wanted to leave, and I think it’s clear that the trade affected him one way or another. He wasn’t himself with the Mets, but coming back to St. Louis for a year to rebuild his value might be good for him, and the Cardinals could have a guy at the back end of the bullpen who has done it before and can also show some of the young guys the way.

Re-signing Helsley depends on a few factors for St. Louis.

First, it depends on his price tag. Helsley was likely headed for a huge deal before he collapsed with the New York Mets. After struggling with the Mets, his value has tanked a bit, but there's still a chance he lands a solid contract. If it's anything of substantial value, the Cardinals likely don't make sense as a suitor.

It would also depend how aggressive the Cardinals want to be with their rebuild. If they plan on contending in the next few years, re-signing Helsley makes sense. But if they see this rebuild as a five-year plan, it wouldn't make sense to sign Helsley for a season or two.