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Ryan Helsley Among Four Cardinals Pitchers That Could be Traded

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Henry Edgeller | Last updated Jun 24, 2025 3:06 PM ET

With the MLB trade deadline nearing, pitchers will be a hot commodity for teams looking to improve their postseason chances. The St. Louis Cardinals have an abundance of hurlers that could be dealt.

ESPN's Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan recently ranked the top 50 trade deadline candidates around the league. Closer Ryan Helsley was among four St. Louis Cardinals pitchers that could be traded by the July 31 deadline.

Helsley was ranked No. 23 on their list, with a 30% chance of being shipped. The best fits are the Dodgers, Phillies, Yankees, Tigers, and Diamondbacks – who the Cardinals could see by their side in the wild card standings as the season continues.

His 1.444 WHIP is one of the worst of the Cardinals bullpen, and the worst of his career. As mentioned in the article, hitters have caught up to Helsley’s notorious fastball, which he relies on more than any other pitch.

Helsley is on contract through the end of this season. With a down year from last year’s Trevor Hoffman Award-winning season, it may be time for the club to part ways with their long-time closer.

An in-house guy who could move into Helsley’s role could be Phil Maton, who has been the most reliable Cardinals reliver to this point. Maton is also listed as a trade candidate in the article, with his $2M contract up after this season. He is sure to be sought after by many contenders, though that includes the Cardinals themselves.

Erick Fedde was ranked No. 30 on the list. After being picked up by the Cardinals at last year’s deadline, he is seen to have a 50% chance of being traded again.

"Fedde's strikeout and walk numbers have regressed from his breakout 2024 season (after coming back from a stint in the KBO League), but he's allowing less damage on batted balls to keep himself in the rotation." McDaniel and Passan wrote. With it likely he may walk away in free agency after this season, it may be right to find a replacement for the veteran arm.

Steven Matz is the final name on the list. After transitioning from the rotation, he has found more success in his command, limiting his walk rate to a career-best 1.3 per nine innings. He'd be a great fit for a team looking to make a run, but some concern of injury could still linger among the heads of other GMs.

The story mentions St. Louis as a fit for pitchers Freddy Peralta, Merrill Kelly, and Reid Detmers. As a team that stands well over .500, the Cardinals could be seen as buyers at the trade deadline, which would limit who is to be dealt.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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