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By Hunter Mulholland
Contributing Sports Writer
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The St. Louis Cardinals entered Friday on the bubble of contention, and one good week could slide them into control of a playoff spot. Katie Woo of The Athletic wrote that the Cardinals will likely hold on to closer Ryan Helsley even though they could garner quite the return.
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This would be a risky decision by the Cardinals, as Helsley is set to be a free agent at the end of the season. If this gamble doesn't pay off, the Cardinals could end up empty-handed in the offseason if Helsley departs.
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Rumors have been circling since the offseason that the Cardinals were looking to move on from their single-season saves record holder, but now the team is looking to land itself in the postseason for the first time since 2022.
Helsley has not been as effective this season, but has still accumulated 19 saves with a 3.27 ERA. The right-hander still ranks at the top of the league in average fastball velocity and chase percentage. Despite a rocky season, Helsley still has the stuff to be the backbone of a major league bullpen.
The Cardinals begin the second half with a series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, followed by a three-game set against the Colorado Rockies. If the Cardinals take care of business over the next week, they could grasp hold of a playoff spot before the trade deadline.
If the Cardinals falter, trading Helsley on the deadline could still happen, but with their upcoming schedule, they could find themselves in the heat of the playoff race.
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