The St. Louis Cardinals made several moves at the 2025 trade deadline, including dealing away popular closer Ryan Helsley to the New York Mets. Though Helsley has stated he hopes to return to St. Louis once he reaches free agency, his immediate focus is finishing the season with the Mets. That has proven difficult, as his early tenure in New York has been marked by significant struggles.
According to a report by Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, the Mets believe Helsley is tipping his pitches. Team officials noticed almost immediately after his arrival that opposing hitters might be picking up on subtle cues. Helsley and his coaches have since worked to identify the issue, which appears to be a small arm movement that varies depending on whether he’s throwing a fastball or slider. This tells hitters what’s coming, giving them a major advantage.
The numbers reflect how severe the problem has become. In 11 outings with the Mets, Helsley has posted a 10.38 ERA, with three losses and four blown saves. Over 8.2 innings, he’s given up 14 runs, 13 hits, seven walks, and two home runs, despite recording 11 strikeouts. After a few passable appearances to start, his last seven outings have unraveled with a staggering 16.88 ERA across just over five innings.
This sharp downturn contrasts with his time in St. Louis, where even in a challenging year he managed to hold a 3.00 ERA. The pitch-tipping problem only came to light after the trade, raising questions about why it wasn’t an issue before. Now, with the problem identified, both Helsley and the Mets are hoping adjustments will help him regain form.
At 31 years old, Helsley still has time to recover and strengthen his performance before entering free agency. While his Mets stint has been rocky so far, solving his pitch-tipping issue could help him return to the level of dominance that made him a fan favorite in St. Louis.
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