Mets Acquire Cardinals Closer Ryan Helsley in Deadline Trade

The St. Louis Cardinals traded All-Star closer Ryan Helsley to the New York Mets ahead of the MLB trade deadline, bolstering the Mets' bullpen alongside closer Edwin Diaz and addressing their key weakness. The Mets' acquisition of Helsley was highly contested, with the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers also pursuing the reliever but ultimately missing out. The Yankees instead added bullpen arms David Bednar, Jake Bird, and Camilo Doval, while the Tigers acquired several relievers but missed out on a controllable closer like Helsley. The Cardinals received top prospects from the Mets in exchange, reflecting the differing competitive aims between the teams, with the Mets pushing for a World Series title and St. Louis focusing on rebuilding. The Texas Rangers also expressed interest in Helsley but lost out to the Mets, shifting their attention to other bullpen options. Overall, the trade deadline movements highlight the Mets' commitment to contend and the Cardinals' shift toward future development.