With Luke Weaver dealing with injury and Devin Williams losing his reliability in the closer role, the New York Yankees are well aware of how crucial it is that they land a surefire relief pitcher when the MLB trade deadline hits the teams on July 31 of this year.
And who else would the AL champions go after on the trade market than Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley, the reigning NL Reliever of the Year?
Helsley’s contract in St. Louis is set to expire at the conclusion of the 2025 season, and with the flame-throwing righty being projected to sign for $81 million in free agency according to Spotrac, the Red Birds almost have no choice but to bid farewell to their two-time All-Star. The likelihood of them signing him back to a near-$100 million deal seems nearly impossible.
The only teams in the MLB that likely have that money? The New York Yankees. And maybe the Dodgers somehow, somewhere, but needless to say, Helsley would be the least of their financial concerns with the list of future Hall of Famers on their payroll as of now.
The Yankees swung for the fences in free agency last season (pun fully intended), signing two former MVPs in Paul Goldschmidt and Cody Bellinger to make up for losing Juan Soto to the Mets.
The aggressiveness from the Bronx Bombers doesn’t seem to want to slow down as the trade deadline sits over a month away, and adding Helsley to the bullpen could give manager Aaron Boone a trifecta of elite relievers as soon as Weaver fully heals and Devin Williams sees a return to form.
Since taking over closing duties for St. Louis in the 2022 season, Helsley has clocked in 96 saves, including a league-leading 49 in the 2024 season.
