The New York Mets have significantly bolstered their bullpen, executing a pivotal MLB trade that brings proven closer Ryan Helsley from the St. Louis Cardinals. This strategic acquisition underscores the Mets’ commitment to strengthening their late-inning relief corps, positioning themselves for a more formidable presence in crucial matchups as the season progresses. The move signals a clear intent to elevate the team’s competitive standing, addressing key areas of pitching depth and high-leverage capabilities.
In exchange for the seasoned right-hander, the Mets dispatched a trio of promising baseball prospects from their High-A Brooklyn affiliate: third baseman Jesus Baez, along with right-handed pitchers Nate Dohm and Frank Elissalt. This transaction follows the Mets’ recent efforts to fortify their bullpen with other notable relievers, including Gregory Soto from the Orioles and Tyler Rogers from the Giants, collectively aiming to establish a robust stable of arms ahead of star closer Edwin Diaz.
Ryan Helsley arrives in New York after dedicating parts of seven seasons to the St. Louis Cardinals’ bullpen, marking his first professional move away from the organization that drafted him in 2015. His tenure with the Cardinals saw him evolve into a premier closer, notably securing 49 saves in 53 opportunities during the 2024 season, solidifying his reputation as one of the league’s most reliable ninth-inning options.
While Helsley’s upper-90s fastball has experienced increased contact rates in 2025, leading to a career-high five blown saves, his overall effectiveness remains evident. He has successfully closed 21 games this season, maintaining an impressive strikeout rate of 26.1% of batters faced. His signature offering, an upper-80s gyro slider, continues to be a devastating wipeout pitch, consistently generating high whiff rates and proving difficult for hitters to square up.
Jesus Baez, a significant piece in this transaction, was signed by the Mets out of the Dominican Republic in 2022. He quickly demonstrated considerable power potential with strong exit velocities and consistent home run production as a teenager. Despite reaching High-A as a 19-year-old in 2024, his season was prematurely ended by a torn meniscus, an injury that also delayed his start to 2025, leading to some early struggles before flashing his potential with a .993 OPS in May.
Nate Dohm, another intriguing baseball prospect headed to the Cardinals, was drafted by the Mets in the third round out of Mississippi State last year. Dohm transitioned from the bullpen to a starting role during his junior year in college, though his season was cut short by an arm injury. His 17 starts across Low-A St. Lucie and High-A Brooklyn this season already surpass his entire collegiate career total, indicating a potential for a versatile role as a back-end starter or bullpen arm.
Frank Elissalt, drafted in the 19th round in 2024, rounds out the package of prospects. Having spent the first half of 2025 with Low-A St. Lucie before a promotion to High-A Brooklyn, Elissalt has been working deeper into games recently, typically pitching in 2-3 inning chunks. The collective departure of these promising young players highlights the Mets’ clear focus on immediate bullpen reinforcement and their pursuit of a deeper postseason run.
The strategic shift to acquire established relief pitching underscores a critical tactical decision by the New York Mets, prioritizing proven major league talent over developing minor league baseball prospects in a bid for immediate impact. This move sets the stage for a compelling narrative as the team navigates the demanding second half of the season, with renewed confidence in its ability to close out games and contend effectively.
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