Cardinals’ Ryan Helsley ’90 percent’ sure he will be traded

Ryan Helsley’s days in St. Louis are numbered. 

At least, according to him. 

The Cardinals closer told The Athletic on Thursday that he’s expecting to be dealt before Thursday’s deadline after years of his name in trade rumors.

“I would say it’s 90 percent I go, 10 percent I stay,” Helsley said. “It’s a little bit different this time. The likelihood is probably as great as it’s ever been for me to get traded.”

Helsley, 31, has been one of the most dominant relief pitchers in baseball in recent years. 

Since 2022, Helsley has the second-best ERA (2.04) and fifth-best strikeout percentage (32.8 percent) among relievers with at least 200 innings pitched over that period. 

This season, the two-time All-Star has a 3.09 ERA with 20 saves and 39 strikeouts in 35 innings. 

But with the Cardinals struggling to stay in the National League playoff picture, it appears that they may move on from the flame-throwing right-hander, who is set to become a free agent this winter. 

St. Louis is 53-51 heading into Friday’s play, sitting nine games back of the Brewers in the NL Central and 2 1/2 games back in the wild-card race. 

“From a front office perspective, I think they saw what they wanted to see,” Helsley said. “Do you sell, where this is a two or three-year rebuild? Or do you just solely take this as a rebuild year?”

Despite anticipating his departure, Helsley made it clear that he wants to continue playing for the only big league franchise he’s ever known.

“There are so many different scenarios you can do. But I want to stay here. I want to help us win here, with the Cardinals.”