3 Cardinals players the NY Mets shouldn’t trade for, 2 they should consider adding

The Mets should trade for Ryan Helsley

It might be tough for the Mets to convince some of the top free agent relievers with closer experience to sign a deal. The alternative is to make a trade. Last year’s closer for the Cardinals, Ryan Helsley, would be a dream addition. He saved a league-leading 49 games with a 2.04 ERA. His first full year as the team’s ninth-inning man, he’d be the perfect setup man and Edwin Diaz alternative for any period when the current Mets closer gets himself into trouble or Carlos Mendoza has a preference for a different matchup.

Controlled only through 2025, Helsley might not be too ecstatic about going to a team with a closer already on the roster because of how it could hurt his chances at a gigantic pay day. Fewer saves means a stronger bargaining chip for other clubs when he does hit the open market. Luckily for him, Helsley showed enough this past year as a closer where enough teams ready to pay a reliever shouldn’t shy too far away.

We know Helsley best from this most recent season but he has been good for several. He pitched to a 1.25 ERA in 2022 and delivered a 2.45 ERA performance in 2023—a year where he missed about half the year.

Mock trades or general speculation about Helsley have often included him being paired with a teammate. Most often, his name seems to appear alongside this next player whom the Mets are better off avoiding.