The St. Louis Cardinals missed the playoffs in 2024 and could be on the brink of a rebuild, potentially focusing on acquiring young talent. They have veteran players and expiring contracts that they may look to move if they decide to make changes.
FanSided’s Josh Jacobs suggested a major trade that would send Ryan Helsley to the New York Yankees in exchange for Luis Gil and two prospects:
“While Luke Weaver emerged as an important bullpen piece for the Yankees last year, losing Holmes, Hill, Kahnle, Trivino, and Loaisiga all at once will have a major impact on their relief core,” Jacobs wrote. “While they still have Weaver, Mark Leiter Jr., Jake Cousins, and others, it would make a lot of sense for the Yankees to bring in an arm like Helsley to shut down ballgames, especially since his salary would be smaller than going after a lesser arm on the open market.”
Gil, who was just named American League Rookie of the Year after posting a 3.50 ERA in 29 starts, has several years of team control left, with 2026 marking his first year of arbitration eligibility. He could certainly play a role in the Cardinals’ future. The prospects accompanying him also hold promise, as Hampton and Mayea are ranked as the Yankees’ No. 6 and No. 13 prospects by MLB Pipeline.
“Chase Hampton is the Yankees’ number six prospect according to MLB Pipeline, and though he missed a large chunk of the 2024 season, he still has the upside of a middle-of-the-rotation starter. Between High-A and Double-A in 2023, Hampton struck out 147 batters in just 106 innings. The elbow issues are concerning for sure, but he has the kind of upside that is worth betting on,” Jacobs wrote. “Same with Brando Mayea, a 19-year-old in rookie ball with eye-popping tools that could vault him up prospect lists as he develops. He has plus defense and plus-plus speed in center field to go with an average hit tool and the potential to develop average or better power as well.”
While losing Helsley and Donovan would be a significant setback for the Cardinals in 2025, it could set the team up for future success. Helsley, who led Major League Baseball in 2024, will be a free agent after the season, with Spotrac projecting him to sign a six-year, $81 million contract. Meanwhile, Donovan has posted a .280 batting average and 30 home runs in three seasons with the Cardinals.
