Ryan Helsley’s intuition told him to slow down and take things in over the past week.
The 30-year-old closer, who grew up a St. Louis Cardinals fan, didn’t want to leave the only professional organization he’s ever known. He was the longest-tenured Cardinal, a homegrown success, a prime example of a player development project gone right.
However, with free agency looming at the end of the season, a trade market desperate for high-leverage relief and the Cardinals hovering at .500, he knew the end was near. So he came to Busch Stadium early each day. He spent extra time in the clubhouse. He drove around the city.
“I just wanted to take it all in,” Helsley said to St. Louis media on Wednesday afternoon.
Less than two hours later, the Cardinals officially began their second sell-off in the last three seasons. Before their series finale against the Miami Marlins, the Cardinals traded Helsley — a two-time All-Star — to the New York Mets. Shortly after a 2-0 loss, St. Louis dealt left-handed reliever Steven Matz to the Boston Red Sox. The club expects to complete a trifecta: All indications point that right-handed set-up man Phil Maton will be traded before Thursday’s 5 p.m. (CT) deadline.
It’s a stark reality for the Cardinals, which had soared up to nine games above .500 earlier in the season. However, their July free fall — spurred by the starting rotation’s collapse — forced president of baseball operations John Mozeliak to enter the market and start moving his rental relievers. St. Louis went 8-15 in July and was outscored 125-80. The rotation’s collective ERA for the month ballooned to over 7.00. The offense was shut out six times. After Wednesday, the Cardinals (55-55) were 10 games back in the division and 5 1/2 games out of the final National League wild-card spot.
Transition season aside, the Cardinals attempted to field a competitive club — and for a good portion of the first half of the season, they succeeded. However, over the final days leading into the deadline, the team’s spiral made its direction obvious.
Helsley, who wanted to stay with the Cardinals and would have happily entertained extension conversations, knew as much. However, that didn’t make preparing to say goodbye any easier.
“I grew up watching Yadi (Molina), (Adam) Wainwright, (Albert) Pujols,” Helsley said. “To get to play with those three in 2022, I felt like a little kid. To go out there every day and wear the birds on the bat, to represent the city and the players that have come before me, I just tried to be a good example and wear it with pride.
“St. Louis has been great to me. I’ve given it everything I had for the last seven years.”
Thank you, Ryan, for being an All-Star on the mound and in our community. pic.twitter.com/lnunDufDU3
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) July 31, 2025
Now, Helsley will join what is shaping up to be one of the best bullpens in the league. The Mets also added right-handed specialist Tyler Rogers from the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday and traded for lefty Gregory Soto from the Baltimore Orioles last week, giving them multiple weapons to set up closer Edwin Díaz.
Matz’s role with the Red Sox will be similar to how he was used in St. Louis. He’s expected to pitch in an extended relief role in a Boston bullpen that already has four left-handed relievers: Justin Wilson, Brennan Bernardino, Chris Murphy and closer Aroldis Chapman.
“Coming into this year, I really just wanted to A) be healthy, and B) be an asset,” Matz said. “The past three years, I wasn’t really able to be either of those things. When a team signs you and believes in you, you want to show them what you can do. I’m glad I was able to do that so far.”
The Cardinals landed minor-league talent in both deals, an unsurprising result for an organization looking to bolster its player development system. St. Louis acquired three High A prospects for Helsley: shortstop Jesus Baez, and right-handers Nate Dohm and Frank Elissalt. None entered the season as a consensus top-100 prospect, though Baez (No. 7) and Dohm (No. 17) both made The Athletic’s top 20 team rankings in the preseason.
Baez, 20, played 70 games for High-A Brooklyn this season, slugging 10 homers and 11 doubles with a .742 OPS. Dohm, the Mets’ third-round pick from Mississippi State in 2024, has a 2.87 ERA over 18 outings (17 starts) and has racked up 77 strikeouts through 62 2/3 innings. Elissalt, drafted out of Nova Southeastern in the 19th round last year, owns a 3.04 ERA over 20 A-ball appearances (seven starts).
Corner infielder Blaze Jordan came to St. Louis in the Matz deal. The 22-year-old was promoted to Triple-A Worcester midway through the year and has hit .298/.341/.480 in 44 games at the top minor-league level. It’s worth noting the connection to adviser Chaim Bloom, who is familiar with the Red Sox minor-league system after spending four seasons as their chief baseball officer.
Thank you, Steven, for your contributions to Cardinals Nation on and off the field. pic.twitter.com/QgIFWypzn9
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) July 31, 2025
Maton, like Helsley, would prefer to remain with the Cardinals. However, St. Louis is preparing to trade him for minor-league talent.
It remains to be seen who will close out games (or pitch the eighth inning or the seventh) with Helsley, Matz and presumably Maton all gone. Manager Oli Marmol has options, but none with experience.
Gordon Graceffo, who was recalled from Triple A on Tuesday when lefty John King went on the IL with a left oblique strain, looks to be an early contender. Kyle Leahy could get a shot, as could Riley O’Brien. St. Louis could also elect to utilize a closer by committee, as its focus shifts entirely to development and 2026 and beyond.
One name to watch for a call-up is Ryan Fernandez. He was a key member of last year’s bullpen but was sent to Triple A after a disastrous April. The Cardinals have not seen him since, but his numbers for Memphis are promising. Fernandez is 4-1 over 29 appearances with a 3.12 ERA and an impressive 12.7 strikeout-per-nine-inning rate.
(Photo of Helsley: Scott Taetsch / Getty Images)
