The Philadelphia Phillies have needed some bullpen help for much of the 2025 season. Things only got worse when left-hander Jose Alvarado was issued an 80-game PED suspension.
Alvarado is now ineligible to pitch in the postseason.
With that in mind, the Phillies need for a bullpen arm is even more urgent. And relievers will be in high demand.
Matt Grazel of FanSided proposed the idea of Philadelphia targeting Ryan Helsley.
"The Phillies have been a rumored destination for reliever Ryan Helsley since April, before Alvarado's suspension. No matter how healthy the Phillies' bullpen may be, the club will look to add at least one reliever by the trade deadline following Alvarado's suspension. Helsley may still be traded this summer by the St. Louis Cardinals, even though the club is in the Wild Card hunt for a playoff spot," Grazel writes.
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Helsley saved 49 games last year, setting a franchise record for the Cardinals. That was enough for the two-time All-Star to be named the National League Reliever of the Year.
The 30-year-old is not having quite as good of a season with St. Louis this year. The right-hander is 3-0, but has a 3.75 ERA, almost two runs higher than his 2.04 mark from 2024.
The Phillies will likely still have to cough up some top prospects, but his value may be going down. He has blown three saves in less than a week.
Still, when he's right, he can be one of the most dominant closers in all of Major League Baseball. He could significantly help the Phillies as they try to make a push for the World Series.
We'll see if the Phillies and Cardinals discuss a deal.
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