Bullpen help is something every team with postseason aspirations needs, come trade deadline season. Guys get hurt, others struggle, and sometimes you can move an arm to address other needs on the roster.

In the case of the Blue Jays’ bullpen, while it has shown drastic improvement from years past — currently ranked sixth in the league in terms of ERA — there is still room to grow. Ask any Jays fan, and they’ll tell you Ryan Helsley fits the bill as a high-impact reliever.

So what makes him so intriguing?

Helsley is a 6-foot-2, hard-throwing right-handed reliever who was a fifth-round pick by the Cardinals in 2015. He had a breakout season in 2022, earning All-Star honours and taking over as the team’s closer from Giovanny Gallegos. In 2024, he made his second All-Star appearance and led the majors with 49 saves.

This year, Helsley has allowed just 12 earned runs and 36 hits through 36 innings of work. The right-hander owns a 3.00 ERA and a 3.50 FIP on the year to go with a 10.3 K/9 and a 3.5 BB/9. He is the Cardinals’ go-to closing option and has converted 21 of 26 opportunities.

His pitching arsenal features a high-velocity four-seam fastball that regularly reaches 98 mph and occasionally touches triple digits, along with a slider, curveball, and cutter. His primary pitches are the four-seamer and the slider, and they’ve served him well; he’s recorded 41 strikeouts in 36 innings with St. Louis this season. Helsley’s slider has a 45.6% whiff rate, and he’s put away 27.2% of batters faced. In high-leverage situations, he’s allowed just eight runs over 18 1/3 innings while striking out 19.

Helsley is set to become a free agent at season’s end, with his $8.2 million deal expiring this fall. Despite the Cardinals being just 1.5 games back of the final Wild Card spot, Helsley has acknowledged that it’s likely he’ll be traded by the July 31 deadline. As a rental, he would still command a significant return for the Cardinals, given his ability to pitch in tough situations and is one of the more sought-after relievers this summer.

It’s no secret the Jays need arms in their bullpen, especially with injuries to key relievers like Yimi García and Nick Sandlin. While both are expected to return before the end of the season, the team must reinforce its bullpen to stay dominant in the late innings.

Jeff Hoffman has improved in recent outings, and Yariel Rodríguez is emerging as a key late-inning option, but adding another strong arm like Helsley could be the difference-maker come October. Helsley brings not only velocity but experience and composure in high-leverage situations—something every contending team needs. This potential trade rivals the Blue Jays/Cardinals swap for Jordan Hicks at the 2023 trade deadline, with Sem Robberse and Adam Kloffenstein heading the opposite way.

On the Cardinals’ side, they’ve been gradually getting younger offensively, with players like Masyn Winn and Iván Herrera having quietly strong seasons. With veterans like Nolan Arenado aging and showing signs of decline, this could be an opportunity for the Cardinals to continue their retooling process. A prospect like Orelvis Martinez, whose draft stock has slipped as of late, potentially paired with someone like J.J. Wetherholt, could help shape the next core of their infield. The Jays may be able to trade a little further down the prospect standings to acquire Helsley but that is still to be seen.

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