The New York Mets have reportedly acquired former National League Reliever of the Year Ryan Helsley from the St. Louis Cardinals, per Jeff Passan of ESPN. This comes on the heels of the Philadelphia Phillies’ trade for Jhoan Durán.
Helsley is going to be a free agent at the end of the season and has taken a step back this season, struggling to keep the ball in the yard at times, but is still one of the league’s best closers. The Cardinals made this deal during a season that has them sitting just out of a playoff spot in the National League and grabbed a trio of prospects in return.
The Mets are trying to take hold of their division, and in response to the Phillies trading for Durán, they made a deal that bolsters their bullpen even more than their move earlier on Wednesday for Tyler Rogers.
The Mets gave up their No.8 prospect shortstop Jesús Báez, No. 14 prospect right-handed pitcher Nate Dohm, and 2024 third-round pick Frank Ellisalt. Not as strong a package as the Minnesota Twins received for Durán, but a strong future-minded package is heading to St. Louis in return for their lights-out closer.
With less than 24 hours remaining before the trade deadline, the Cardinals and Twins have made their big moves, and now the focus shifts to the Pittsburgh Pirates. They hold the next highest valued closer in David Bednar, and they have already expressed their wishes for a return if they were to move the right-hander.
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