After a 2-0 loss to the Marlins, the 55-55 Cardinals traded Ryan Helsley to the Mets on July 31, 2025, signaling a pivot to the future at the deadline.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It's official: the St. Louis Cardinals are sellers. On a pivotal Trade Deadline Thursday, the front office signaled a major shift in direction, sending All-Star closer Ryan Helsley to the New York Mets for a package of prospects. The move came on the heels of another gut-wrenching, silent-bat loss to the Marlins that dropped the team to a perfectly mediocre 55-55, effectively ending any realistic playoff aspirations and turning the page on the 2025 season.
An 8-15 record in July sealed their fate, forcing the front office to shift from playoff contention to retooling at the deadline.
The biggest news of the day was the departure of flamethrower Ryan Helsley. In a clear move to restock the farm system, the Cardinals sent their closer to the Mets for three minor leaguers, with infielder Baez—the Mets' No. 5 prospect—as the centerpiece. Baez, a 20-year-old hitting .244 with a respectable .740 OPS in High-A, represents the type of young, controllable talent the organization is now prioritizing over a long-shot playoff run. While losing a dominant arm like Helsley stings, the trade is a pragmatic admission of where this team stands.
The trade felt inevitable after Wednesday's dismal 2-0 loss to the Miami Marlins. Miles Mikolas was solid, allowing just two runs over six innings, but the offense was once again lifeless. The Cardinals went a frustrating 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and stranded eight men on base. The breaking point came in the fifth inning when they loaded the bases with one out, only for Brendan Donovan to strike out and Iván Herrera to ground out, ending the threat and summarizing the team's offensive woes. That single inning felt like the final nail in the coffin for their playoff hopes.
While the big-league club looks ahead to next year, the future is already showing flashes in the minors. Nolan Gorman, on a rehab assignment with the Memphis Redbirds, blasted a solo homer, a welcome sign as he nears a return. Further down, No. 3 prospect Leonardo Bernal continued his impressive season with a solo shot for Double-A Springfield. The timing was perfect, as MLB Pipeline's latest rankings noted the rise of much-needed pitching prospects like Ixan Henderson and Brycen Mautz, offering a glimmer of hope on an otherwise somber day for the franchise.
As the dust settles, the Cardinals head to San Diego not for a wild-card showdown, but for the start of a long evaluation period. The rest of this season is no longer about climbing the standings; it's about finding out who will be part of the next winning Cardinals team. With eyes now firmly fixed on 2026, every at-bat and every inning carries a new weight of future potential.
