After just narrowly missing the playoffs in 2024, one of the top priorities for the Arizona Diamondbacks and general manager Mike Hazen is upgrading the back end of their bullpen. With the struggles of Paul Sewald in the second half of the season, upgrading the closer spot should be the priority.
One such option would be St. Louis Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley. Cardinals MLB beat writer John Denton and MLB Insider Mark Feinsand reported that the team has received trade interest for the two-time All-Star closer from both the Diamondbacks and Blue Jays.
Helsley, 30, has emerged as one of the top closers in the game. Since taking over the role full-time in 2022, he saved 82 games and pitched to a 1.83 ERA. With the Cardinals looking to rebuild their roster for the future, they have a chance to land some impact talent back in a deal for a high-value reliever with just one year of control left.
Helsley can dial up the heat, with his four-seamer averaging just under 100 MPH. He'll keep hitters honest with a slider that works away from his high fastball, generating whiffs at a 51% rate. The combination of a high-velocity fastball and the slider, which he threw nearly equally in 2025, can force some ugly swings if opposing hitters guess wrong.
This overlay from Pitching Ninja best illustrates how the two pitches play off each other and how they put hitters in an incredibly difficult spot.
Ryan Helsley, 101mph Fastball and 91mph Slider, Overlay pic.twitter.com/WU1qtQ1gi7
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 8, 2023
The Diamondbacks know the effect of having a shutdown arm in the ninth inning can have on a team. That same dynamic played out in 2023, with the acquisition of Sewald leading them to a National League pennant. In that deal, they traded a controllable infielder in Josh Rojas and then sold high on Dominic Canzone and Ryan Bliss. Sewald went scoreless in his first eight outings, with six saves and a win.
However, the possibility of a Helsley trade is unlikely as of this writing. Arizona Sports Insider and co-host of Burns & Gambo John Gambadoro reports that St. Louis is unwilling to trade their closer despite the Diamondbacks' best efforts.
I believe the Dbacks tried to pry him loose but from what I heard St. Louis is not trading him. https://t.co/zIE2gjfoJn
— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) December 22, 2024
If Helsley is unavailable, the Diamondbacks will have to look elsewhere for their closer role. From their internal options, they could see if Kevin Ginkel, AJ Puk, or Justin Martinez can step up into the role in 2025. If they look for external options through free agency, they could target Kyle Finnegan, Kirby Yates, or Kenley Jansen.
Everybody has a price, though, and after the Corbin Burnes signing, perhaps the D-backs figure out a way to give the Cardinals an offer they can't refuse for Helsley.