On July 31, 2025, the St. Louis Cardinals traded All-Star Ryan Helsley to the Mets & Steven Matz to the Red Sox in a major deadline overhaul for prospects.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
While the bats went silent at Busch Stadium, the front office was making noise. On a dramatic trade deadline day, the St. Louis Cardinals signaled a definitive pivot towards the future, trading All-Star closer Ryan Helsley to the New York Mets and veteran lefty Steven Matz to the Boston Red Sox. The moves, which brought back a significant haul of high-ceiling prospects, marked a clear acknowledgment that the focus has shifted from the struggles of the .500 club to building the next contender.
The Cardinals acquired first baseman Blaze Jordan, who is hitting .304 with 12 HR and 61 RBI this season between Double-A and Triple-A.
The biggest move of the day sent one of the league's top relievers out of St. Louis. The Cardinals dealt Ryan Helsley (3.00 ERA, 21 saves) to the Mets for a package headlined by two of New York's top 15 prospects: third baseman Jesus Baez and right-handed pitcher Nate Dohm, along with another arm in Frank Elissalt. In a separate deal, Steven Matz (3.44 ERA) was sent to the Red Sox for slugging first baseman Blaze Jordan. These aren't minor tweaks; they are foundational moves designed to restock a farm system and build for 2026 and beyond.
As if to perfectly illustrate the front office's reasoning, the big-league club put on a painfully familiar performance, falling 2-0 to the Miami Marlins. The offense was completely stifled, managing just five hits and striking out seven times. Key sluggers Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt went a combined 0-for-7, leaving runners stranded and wasting a solid pitching effort. The loss dropped the team back to a perfectly mediocre 55-55, highlighting the offensive inconsistency that has plagued them all season.
While the major league team struggled, there were bright spots in the minors that hinted at a better future. Infielder Nolan Gorman, on a rehab assignment with the Double-A Springfield Cardinals, blasted a solo home run, signaling he may be close to returning to provide a much-needed jolt to the lineup. He was joined by the organization's No. 3 prospect, catcher Leonardo Bernal, who also homered for Springfield. With the addition of power hitters like Baez and Jordan, the Cardinals' system suddenly looks much more dynamic.
Today was a pivotal day for the Cardinals franchise. While losing an All-Star closer like Ryan Helsley is a tough pill to swallow, the front office has clearly chosen a direction. The rest of the 2025 season is no longer about a desperate push for a Wild Card spot; it's about evaluation, development, and getting a first look at the pieces that will define the next era of Cardinals baseball. The future got a lot more interesting today, even if the present feels a little frustrating.
