Cardinals All-Star Closer Viewed as Trade Option for Rangers
As the MLB season continues to unfold, teams are getting a clearer picture of where they excel and where they need reinforcements. For contenders eyeing a postseason push, front offices are already compiling lists of potential trade targets ahead of the summer deadline. One of those contenders is the Texas Rangers.
Having won the World Series just two years ago, the Rangers still boast one of the league’s most formidable lineups. However, one area where they’ve consistently struggled this season is in the bullpen. That’s where St. Louis Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley could come into play.
In a recent piece by Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller, Helsley was named as a potential trade target who could significantly bolster Texas’ relief corps. Helsley, who has spent his entire MLB career with the Cardinals, may not be an easy piece for St. Louis to part with—but if he were to become available, he would immediately offer a major upgrade for the Rangers.
Texas currently ranks near the bottom of the league with a bullpen ERA of 4.37, placing them eighth-worst in MLB. Their current closer, Luke Jackson, has a 4.50 ERA through seven outings. In contrast, Helsley has posted a solid 3.00 ERA in six appearances this season, showing more consistency and effectiveness in late-game situations.
Helsley is also coming off a breakout 2023 campaign, during which he led all of Major League Baseball with 49 saves and set a personal best with 62 appearances—nearly doubling his previous high of 33. His performance earned him All-Star recognition and cemented his status as one of the game’s top closers.
If the Rangers were able to acquire Helsley and slot him into the ninth-inning role, it would allow Jackson to return to his more natural setup position, potentially stabilizing the entire bullpen. Given the uncertainty in the American League this season, a move like this could be the difference between a deep playoff run and an early exit.
In what’s shaping up to be a wide-open AL race, solidifying the bullpen might be the key for Texas to make a return trip to the World Series—just two seasons after winning it all.
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