The Boston Red Sox are facing significant challenges this spring, with three of their top starting pitchers—Kutter Crawford, Lucas Giolito, and Brayan Bello—expected to start the season on the injured list. However, the rotation isn’t the team’s most pressing concern. With just two weeks until Opening Day, the Red Sox still don’t have a clear closer.
As of now, Liam Hendriks, Aroldis Chapman, and Justin Slaten are expected to share closing duties, a notable downgrade from last season when Kenley Jansen anchored the role. If Boston wants to solidify the back end of their bullpen, they could pursue a blockbuster trade with the St. Louis Cardinals for All-Star closer Ryan Helsley.
Helsley, 30, is coming off a career-best season in which he led Major League Baseball with 49 saves and posted a stellar 2.04 ERA over 66 1/3 innings. He also recorded a career-high 3.0 WAR, all while pitching for a struggling Cardinals team. With Helsley set to hit free agency after the 2025 season—where Spotrac predicts he could command an $81 million deal—St. Louis may look to trade him rather than risk losing him for nothing.
Acquiring Helsley would be costly, but it could be a game-changer for Boston. Instead of relying on a committee of unproven relievers, the Red Sox would gain a dominant, flame-throwing closer capable of eclipsing 50 saves in 2025. For a team looking to take a step forward, Helsley could be the missing piece to stabilize the bullpen and elevate Boston’s postseason aspirations.
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