Cardinals could send All-Star closer to Red Sox in potential blockbuster

The St. Louis Cardinals closed out the first half with a 5-4 comeback win over the Atlanta Braves on Sunday, but are starting to struggle a little bit.

While they are 51-46 and just 1 1/2 games back in the National League Wild Card race, they are also 4-8 in their last 12 games and have fallen to 6 1/2 games behind the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central.

They haven't decided whether to buy or sell this year at the trade deadline, and that decision may come down to the final few days.

If they sell, they have plenty of tradable pieces, including closer Ryan Helsley. Sean McAdam of MassLive.com proposed the idea of the Boston Red Sox plucking Helsley away from St. Louis.

"It’s possible the Sox could acquire a closer like Ryan Helsley or Pittsburgh’s David Bednar and utilize him in the eighth," McAdam said.

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Helsley saved 49 games in 2024, setting a Cardinals franchise record. He also posted a 2.04 ERA and was named the NL Reliever of the Year.

This year, he hasn't been quite as dominant. He is 3-1 with a 3.27 ERA and has blown five saves, but also has still recorded 19 saves. The 30-year-old right-hander still carries tremendous value at the trade deadline.

The two-time All-Star is a free agent at the end of the year and likely won't be back in St. Louis in 2026, so it makes sense to capitalize on his value while they still can.

The Cardinals chose to hold onto Helsley in the offseason rather than trade him despite their proposed "reset." It will be interesting to see what they decide to do with him at the deadline.

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