The Mets shocked the league this summer when they acquired All-Star closer Ryan Helsley from the St. Louis Cardinals in a blockbuster trade just before the deadline. The move came as part of an aggressive push to strengthen New York’s bullpen late in the season.
In St. Louis, Helsley had built a reputation as one of MLB’s elite relievers: a two-time All-Star and, in 2024, the league’s saves leader with an impressive 49 saves. SI+1 The Mets hoped that pairing Helsley with their established closer, Edwin Díaz, would create a dominant back-end bullpen — giving the team a powerful one-two punch in the late innings.
However, Helsley’s transition to Queens did not go as planned. After the trade, he struggled mightily, finishing with a 7.20 ERA during his stint with the Mets — a sharp contrast to his previous success. As a result, instead of locking down save chances, he faltered, undermining the very bullpen boost the Mets had hoped to secure.
The disappointing result raised questions about whether Helsley’s peak years were behind him — and whether the Mets misjudged how well he’d adapt in a new environment. On paper, the deal looked like a savvy addition; in practice, it exposed how volatile bullpen performance can be, especially under the pressure of high-stakes games and a foreign league context.
Now, as free agency looms for Helsley after the 2025 season, the Mets’ gamble may go down as a cautionary tale: even proven closers aren’t guaranteed to perform when the spotlight hits — and bullpen depth needs more than reputation, it needs consistency.
