3) Ryan Helsley
Since the 2022 season, Ryan Helsley has been a top MLB reliever averaging a 1.83 ERA over the last three seasons. In 2024, Helsey completed an MLB-best 49 saves last season and struck out nearly 30% of batters, limiting his walk percentage by three percentage points compared to 2023.
Helsley held opponents to a .243 wOBA ranking in the top 5% of the league. Within his repertoire, his slider induced an elite swing-and-miss percentage of 51% and his fastball averaged one of the highest levels in MLB at 99.6 mph.
Executives like Chaim Bloom, the new president of baseball operations of the St. Louis Cardinals know the value and return that an elite reliever brings in MLB for teams in win-now mode. Especially since the relief position is one of the most volatile on the market.
Helsley's profile is more interesting and valuable than Devin Williams' because Helsley is controllable until the 2026 season, and his salary projection via arbitration is relatively low at less than $7 million for 2025 because he missed time in 2023 due to injury. This would imply that the cost of acquiring Helsey would be high, requiring a substantial return in prospect or MLB-ready talent.