ST. LOUIS — In the context that the St. Louis Cardinals may carry out a major “force liquidation” before the transfer deadline, the name Ryan Helsley – the star rescuer with peak performance in 2024-2025 – is unexpectedly mentioned in the list of players who “may leave”. But few people expect that, behind the cold face every time he throws the last pitch of the game, there is a heart that is still attached to the land of Busch Stadium more than ever.
“I don’t want to leave the Cardinals. This is my family. It’s where I grew up, where I have teammates that I consider brothers…” – Helsley choked up when asked about the possibility of being traded.
Since his MLB debut in 2019, Ryan Helsley has proven his worth step by step – a closer with formidable speed, a steely spirit, and always knows how to shine in the most tense moments. In the 2025 season, he is leading the entire MLB in saves (keeping the winning score), making himself one of the hottest weapons if brought to the trade market.
But contrary to commercial calculations, Helsley is not good at hiding his emotions:
“Every time I step on the field, I don’t just pitch for the win. I pitch for this jersey, for the Cardinals fans, and for the difficult days we went through together. If that day comes – the day I have to leave – I think I’m going to cry.”
According to many sources, the Cardinals are considering trading Helsley for young talent, in an effort to restructure the force for the future. But that has made many fans angry and confused. Helsley is more than just a great pitcher – he is a spiritual figure who fights quietly without demanding glory.
On fan forums like “Redbird Nation” and “St. Louis Loyalists”, a series of posts in support of keeping Ryan Helsley appeared:
“He is the heart of the bullpen. Don’t let us lose someone like that for a few numbers in the stat book!” – wrote one loyal fan.
The MLB transfer market is always cruel – and in that world, sometimes heart has to give way to strategy. But with Ryan Helsley, no matter what happens next, one thing is certain: he was, is and will always be a part of the Cardinals – not just in history, but in the hearts of fans.