St. Louis Cardinals trade Ryan Helsley

The St. Louis Cardinals have traded closer Ryan Helsley to the New York Mets for starting pitcher Nate Dohm, RHP Frank Elissalt, shortstop/third baseman Jesus Baez. Helsley, 31, is currently 3-1 with a 3.00 ERA, 36 games, 21 saves, 36 innings, 41 strikeouts, 14 walks, and a whip of 1.39.

Helsley had been an All-Star 2 times: (2022, and 2024). 

Helsley had his best season in 2024. That season, Helsley was 7-4 with a 2.04 ERA, 65 games, 49 saves, 66.1 innings, 79 strikeouts, 23 walks, and a whip of 1.10. The wins, games, saves, and innings were all career highs for Helsley. The saves also set a single-season franchise record and led the MLB. Helsey also won NL Reliever of the Year. 

In 2021, Helsley had a career high (10) holds. 

Helsley had a career high (94) strikeouts in 2022. 

Overall, Helsley is currently in his 7th MLB season. Helsley is 31-15 with a 2.67 ERA, 22 holds, 105 saves, 299.2 innings, 355 strikeouts, 121 walks, and a whip of 1.13. 

Dohm, 22, is currently 3-5 with a 2.87 ERA, 18 games, 17 starts, 62.2 innings, 77 strikeouts, 23 walks, and a whip of 1.26 combined between Single-A St. Lucie and High-A Brookyln in 2025. 

Dohm was a 3rd-round pick in June 2024, out of Mississippi State. Dohm ranked as the Mets 14th best prospect. 

Overall, Dohm is currently in his 1st minor league season. 

Elissalt, 23, currently is 4-5 with a 3.04 ERA, 20 games, 7 starts, 3 holds, 56.1 innings, 65 strikeouts, and 21 walks combined between Single-A St. Lucie and High-A Brookyln in 2025. The wins, games, starts, holds, innings, and strikeouts are all career highs for Elissalt. 

In 2024, Elissalt had a career high (1) save. 

Overall, Elissalt is currently in his 2nd minor league season. Elissalt is 4-5 with a 3.02 ERA, 21 games, 7 starts, 3 holds, 1 save, 56.2 innings, 66 strikeouts, 21 walks, and a whip of 0.99.

Baez, 20, is currently hitting .242 with 46 runs, 67 hits, 11 doubles, 10 home runs, 42 RBI's, 7 stolen bases, and 35 walks combined between Single-A St. Lucie and High-A Brookyln in 2025. 

Baez ranked as the Mets 8th best prospect. 

Overall, Baez is currently in his 4th minor league season. Baez has played 241 games with 143 runs, 215 hits, 46 doubles, 2 triples, 30 home runs, 136 hits, 29 stolen bases, 107 walks, and a .243 batting average.
 
The Cardinals got a great heist from the Mets for Helsley, who could be a free agent after the season. The prospects will help revamp the Cardinals' minor league system, which has been a big need.

Fans might hate Helsley being traded, but it helps the Cardinals' future. There's also a chance that Helsley could return to the Cardinals as a free agent. Helsley has said he'd be open to returning to the Cardinals as a free agent if traded. 

St. Louis Cardinals trade Erick Fedde

 

The St. Louis Cardinals have traded starting pitcher Erick Fedde and cash ($2.7 million, which covers the rest of Fedde's $7.5 million) to the Atlanta Braves for cash considerations or a player to be named later. Fedde, 32, is currently 3-10 with a 5.22 ERA, 20 games, 20 starts, 1 complete game, 1 shutout, 101.2 innings, 63 strikeouts, 47 walks, and a whip of 1.50 in 2025. The complete game and shutout are both career highs for Fedde. 

Fedde had his best season in 2024, combined between the Chicago White Sox and Cardinals. That season, Fedde was 9-9 with a 3.30 ERA, 31 games, 31 starts, 177.1 innings, 154 strikeouts, and 52 walks. The wins, games, starts, innings, and strikeouts were all career highs for Fedde. Fedde also had a career high 13 quality starts.

The Cardinals designated Fedde for assignment on July 23, 2025. 

Overall, Fedde is currently in his 8th MLB season. Fedde is 33-52 with a 4.87 ERA, 153 games, 139 starts, 1 complete game, 1 shutout, 733.1 innings, 569 strikeouts, 290 walks, and a whip of 1.43. 

The Braves hope Fedde can give their starting rotation innings and get his season turned around a tiny bit. 

St. Louis Blues sign Pius Suter

 

The St. Louis Blues have signed free agent center Pius Suter to a two-year contract, worth $8.25 million. Suter, 29, played 81 games with 25 goals, 21 assists, 46 points, and a plus 2 with the Vancouver Canucks in 2024-2025. The goals and points were both career highs for Suter. The assists tied a career high from 2021-2022. 

Overall, Suter has played 5 NHL seasons. Suter has played 364 games with 82 goals, 80 assists, and 162 points. In the playoffs, Suter has played 13 games with 2 goals, 1 assist, 3 points, and a plus 2. 

Suter gives the Blues a solid 3rd line center who could move up the 2nd line at times. Suter is also a low-risk, high-reward signing. 

The Blues roster so far looks like it's improved. 

St. Louis Blues acquire Logan Mailloux

 

The St. Louis Blues have traded center Zack Bolduc to the Montreal Canadiens for defenseman Logan Mailloux. Mailloux, 22, played 7 games with 2 goals, 2 assists, 4 points, and a -5 in 2024-2025. The games, goals, assists, and points were all career highs for Mailloux.

In the AHL, with Laval Rocket, Mailloux played 63 games with 12 goals, 21 assists, 33 points, and a plus 5. In the playoffs, Mailloux played 13 games with 2 goals, 4 assists, 6 points, and a -7.

Overall, Mailloux has played 2 NHL seasons. Mailloux has played 8 games with 2 goals, 3 assists, 5 points, and a -4. 

Bolduc, 22, played 72 games with 19 goals, 17 assists, 36 points, and a plus 20 in 2024-2025. The games, goals, assists, points, and plus mark were all career highs for Bolduc. 

Overall, Bolduc has played 2 NHL seasons. Bolduc has played 97 games with 24 goals, 21 assists, 45 points, and a plus 20. In the playoffs, Bolduc has played 7 games with 1 assist, 1 point, and a -1. 

The Blues lose a good played in Bolduc, but they get a player who has potential to become better in Mailloux. The Blues also needed a right-handed shooting defenseman. Blues general manager Doug Armstrong thinks that Mailloux can be a top 4 defenseman. It's also good that Blues head coach Jim Montgomery is good at developing younger players. On paper this trade could be good for both teams. 

St. Louis Blues sign Nick Bjugstad

 

The St. Louis Blues have signed center Nick Bjugstad to a two-year contract, worth $3.5 million. Bjugstad, 32, played 66 games with 8 goals, 11 assists, 19 points, and a -2 with the Utah Mammoth in 2024-2025. 

Bjugstad had his best season in 2017-2018, with the Florida Panthers. That season, Bjugstad played 82 games with 19 goals, 30 assists, 49 points, and a plus 5. The games, assists, and points were all career highs for Bjugstad. 

In 2022-2023, Bjugstad had a career high (22) goals. 

Overall, Bjugstad has played 13 NHL seasons. Bjugstad has played 760 games with 157 goals, 173 assists, 330 points, and a -15. In the playoffs, Bjugstad has played 27 games with 6 goals, 2 assists, 8 points, and a plus 1. 

Bjugstad should be able to help the Blues at center. Bjugstad adds some size to the roster. The signing of Bjugstad probably means the end of center Radek Faksa. 

St. Louis Blues extend Joel Hofer

 

The St. Louis Blues have re-signed goalie Joel Hofer to a two-year contract extension, worth $6.8 million. Hofer, 24, played 31 games, with 28 starts, and was 16-8-3 with 1 shutout, a .904 save percentage, and a 2.64 goals-against average. The game, starts, and wins were all career highs for Hofer. The shutout tied a career high from 2023-2024. 

Overall, Hofer has played 4 NHL seasons. Hofer has played 69 games, with 63 starts and is 35-22-5 with 2 shutouts, a .907 save percentage, and a 2.71 goals-against average. 

It's good to see the Blues get Hofer signed to a new contract. Hofer has developed into a solid backup goalie behind Jordan Binnington. 

St. Louis Cardinals sign Phil Maton

 

The St. Louis Cardinals have signed RHP Phil Maton to a one-year contract, worth $2 million. Maton, 31, was 3-3 with a 3.66 ERA, 71 games, 18 holds, 3 saves, 64 innings, 60 strikeouts, and 24 walks combined between the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Mets. The games, holds, and saves were all career highs for Maton. 

In 2021, combined between the Cleveland Indians and Houston Astros, Maton had a career high (85) strikeouts. 

Maton helped the Astros win the World Series in 2022. 

In 2023, Maton had a career high (66) innings. 

Overall, Maton has played 8 seasons in the MLB. Maton is 19-15 with a 4.16 ERA, 1 start, 64 holds, 5 saves, 411 innings, 458 strikeouts, 160 walks, and a whip of 1.29.

To make room on the 40-man roster the Cardinals have designated LHP Bailey Horn for assignment. 

Maton will replace Andrew Kittredge (who signed with the Baltimore Orioles, earlier in the offseason) as a setup man for closer Ryan Helsley. 

The Cardinals had interest in Maton last offseason before he signed with the Rays. 

Maton should be a good addition for the Cardinals bullpen.