News and notes: Cardinals open, Steven Matz, Ryan Helsley expected to shop

Attention Black Friday shoppers: the St. Louis Cardinals are open for business.

With their competitive window closed, the franchise has decided to hit the reset button and plans to transfer the roster this offseason, making almost everyone available via trade. Several high-profile players have already started circulating in trade rumors, namely All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado, who has a full no-trade clause and is signed through 2027.

But the Cardinals are also expected to make offers on a number of different pitchers, including one former Toronto Blue Jays pitcher and another a potential target for the vacant closers position.

Cardinals plan to listen to Matz, Helsley

According to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis plans to explore trade talks for left-handed starter Steven Matz and right-handed reliever Ryan Helsley this winter. Moving both pitchers would help reduce the organization’s projected 2025 Competitive Balance Tax (CBT) payroll, which is approximately $162 million, according to FanGraphs RosterResource.

Matz, who spent one season with Toronto in ’21, will enter the final season of a four-year, $44 million contract next season. He is scheduled to make $12.5 million before hitting free agency after the ’25 campaign. According to MLB Trade Rumors’ projection model, Helsley, who is also a free agent after next season, is expected to command $6.9 million during his final year of arbitration.

The 33-year-old left-hander missed most of last season due to nagging back problems, limiting him to just 12 appearances (seven starts) with the Cardinals. He worked exclusively out of the bullpen the entire stretch and allowed just one run in his final eight innings. Collectively, he pitched to a disappointing 5.08 ERA and 4.88 FIP with 33 strikeouts in 44.1 innings.

Despite his injury-plagued campaign, Matz should have a healthy market of prospects looking for a back-end starter, as he is just two seasons removed from posting 2.0 fWAR over 105 innings.

Although Helsley only has one year of club control left, the Cardinals will almost certainly pursue significant compensation for his services – and understandably so. The 30-year-old led the Majors in saves (49) a season ago while responsible for a career-high 2.3 fWAR in 65 relief appearances.

The right-handed closer also possesses one of the most overwhelming arsenals in the sport, with a 1990s four-seater that ranks in the 99th percentile in average speed (99.6 mph) and a slider primarily responsible for his whiff rate in the 97th percentile (36.1 percent) last season.

The Blue Jays must rebuild their bullpen this winter, including finding a replacement for Jordan Romano, who was undrafted by the club before last Friday’s deadline and is expected to sign elsewhere in free agency. Since the front office is unlikely to fill that void with a free agent move, acquiring a pitcher of Helsley’s caliber could be the perfect alternative.

That route would likely require subtracting the organization’s excess number of controllable infielders, such as moving Addison Barger, for example, given Arenado’s expected departure. However, it would provide a solid foundation to build around in the ‘pen’ with a back-end trio of Helsley, Chad Green and Erik Swanson.

However, all three will be eligible for free agency after next season.