NEW YORK – Cherokee Nation citizen Ryan Helsley was sent to New York after the St. Louis Cardinals traded their All-Star closer to the Mets on July 30, only a day before the Major League Baseball trade deadline.

The 30-year-old right-hander apparently saw what was coming. Shortly before the transaction he estimated his chances of being traded at “90 percent” after the Cardinals declined to offer him a contract extension during the spring.

“The likelihood is probably as great as it’s ever been for me to get traded,” Helsley said.

In exchange for Helsley, the Mets sent three prospects to St. Louis: infielder Jesus Baez and right-handed pitchers Nate Dohm and Frank Elissalt. None are among the hottest prospects, but they could play roles as the Cardinals enter a rebuilding phase.

For Helsley, the trade allows something he hasn’t experienced in recent seasons – a chance to play meaningful September games and potentially reach the postseason. The Mets held a wildcard spot in early August, while the Cardinals sat near the bottom of the National League standings.

“You want to play in October because you never know if it is going to be your last time or your only time,” Helsley said before the trade. “We take it for granted sometimes, and I think when you have that chance and another team wants to add you to their team, that’s special.”

The trade made Helsley the longest-tenured former Cardinal, having spent parts of seven seasons with the organization since being drafted in the fifth round out of Northeastern State University in Tahlequah in 2015.

This season, Helsley has put up a 3.00 ERA across 36 games while recording 21 saves. His fastball averages 99.3 miles per hour, ranking in the 99th percentile of all major league pitchers. Combined with his slider, the combination has made him one of the sport’s most feared relievers.

The two-time All-Star has struck out 41 batters in 36 innings this season as the Cards’ closer. His “chase rate” and “whiff rate” each exceed 30 percent.

In New York, Helsley will join fellow closer Edwin Díaz in what could be an intriguing late-game combination. Rather than replace Díaz as the primary closer, Helsley is expected to handle setup duties, giving Mets manager Carlos Mendoza flexibility on the mound in the late innings.

Also on July 30, the Mets acquired Tyler Rogers from San Francisco in an effort to further bolster the New York bullpen.

Helsley, who will become a free agent after this season, is owed $2.6 million for the remainder of 2025.

As of Aug. 11, the Mets were sitting in the final wild card spot in the standings with a 1.5 game lead over the Cincinnati Reds and 3.5 game lead over the Cardinals. The Mets trail the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League East Division standings by 5.5 games.