Phillies Could Get Into Bidding War With Mets Over Cardinals' Ryan Helsley

Phillies Could Get Into Bidding War With Mets Over Cardinals' Ryan Helsley originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Like most contenders, the Philadelphia Phillies will be looking to land a reliever or two at the MLB trade deadline. After signing David Robertson to a deal, the Phillies are still expected to be in the market for relief pitching.

The Phillies will be active in the trade market, and according to Jim Bowden of The Athletic, the Phillies won't be alone in their pursuit of one of the top arms on the market. They'll be competing with the New York Mets for the same reliever.

"(Ryan) Helsley has the most trade value," Bowden writes, "and the Mets and Phillies could get into a bidding war if St. Louis decides to trade him."

If the St. Louis Cardinals do sell, which is trending towards the most likely scenario, then Ryan Helsley would be one of the top names to watch for at the deadline.

Philadelphia need the bullpen, and Helsley, a two-time All-Star with a 3.18 ERA this season, would be a great option to add a high-leverage arm to the bullpen.

However, this report from Bowden indicates that the Phillies aren't going to be alone in their pursuit of Helsley, with heated division rival Mets also expected to be vying for the Cardinals' closer.

After the Phillies dropped two of three to the Los Angeles Angels, they barely stayed ahead of the Mets for the NL East division lead. With a heated race potentially coming down to the wire, Helsley could make a huge difference.

He's had incredible seasons in 2022 and 2024, recording a 1.25 ERA and a 2.04 ERA, respectively. In 2024, he led all of baseball in saves with 49 and struck out 79 batters while walking 23 en route to an incredible season.

If St. Louis sells, he'll fetch a strong market and a high return. For the Phillies, adding to their struggling bullpen, which has suffered due to Jordan Romano and Joe Ross being major disappointments, could benefit immensely from adding Helsley.

But, as Bowden mentions, with the Mets also expected to be involved, the Phillies could end up in a bidding war for the Cardinals' closer. He's a one-year rental, and overpaying for him could hurt more than he would help.

That isn't to say the Phillies shouldn't try to land him. He's an excellent replacement for Romano, and would be a massive pickup for the bullpen. He may cost a bit, especially amid a bidding war, but he'd be exactly the player the Phillies need.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 21, 2025, where it first appeared.