MLB insider connects Mets to 'popular' two-time All Star closer

In what is expected to be an active trade deadline market for relievers, the New York Mets became the first team to strike with their deal for Gregory Soto. 

The 30-year-old left-hander was acquired last Friday after posting a 3.96 ERA through his first 45 appearances with the Baltimore Orioles. Though Soto has struggled with command issues throughout his major career, the two-time All-Star will fill a major need in the Mets' bullpen, resulting from season-ending injuries to southpaws A.J. Minter and Danny Young. 

While Soto was the first new addition to the Mets' bullpen, it is unlikely that he will be the last. Other than All-Star closer Edwin Diaz, who has been his usual untouchable self, the rest of the Mets' relief corps has been a mixed bag. Husacar Brazobán (10.66 ERA since June 19) and Ryne Stanek (4.94 ERA since April 25) have fallen off since early-season hot streaks, while Max Kranick and Dedniel Núñez’s Tommy John surgeries have depleted manager Carlos Mendoza’s circle of trust even further. Even José Butto and Reed Garrett, the closest thing the Mets have to reliable set-up men, have frequently walked the tight rope with BB/9s over 4.0. 

Though the Mets may also be in the market for a center fielder and a starting pitcher, adding another late-inning option should be a priority, especially considering that their bullpen has thrown the sixth-most innings in Major League Baseball this year. Therefore, it’s no surprise that MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand listed them as one of the teams in the market for St. Louis Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley. 

“Ryan Helsley is one of the most popular trade targets with no less than a half-dozen teams interested to varying degrees,” Feinsand tweeted this morning. “Among the suitors, per sources, are the Yankees, Mets, Dodgers, Phillies, Rangers and Blue Jays.”

The 30-year-old Helsley has been a frequent trade candidate since last winter, and the Cardinals' 1-5 slide coming out of the All-Star break only makes it more likely that they look to move the pending free agent. Though he hasn’t been quite as dominant as last season, when he led MLB with 49 saves and finished ninth in Cy Young Award voting, Helsley has still been among the best closers in baseball, posting a 3.00 ERA and tallying 21 saves. Helsley is also in the midst of his best stretch of the season, allowing just one run over his last 11 appearances and converting on all eight of his save opportunities. 

Unlike many other potential suitors, the Mets wouldn’t need Helsley to assume their closer role, but the prospect of pairing Helsley with Diaz and forming one of the most high-octane late-inning combinations in baseball may force the National League East leaders to take a big swing. 

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