Cardinals And Mets Announce 4 Player Trade (Scouting Reports Included)
CARDINALS-METS ANNOUNCE FOUR-PLAYER TRADE
RHP Ryan Helsley Sent to Mets for Three Minor League Prospects
St. Louis, Mo. (July 30, 2025) — The St. Louis Cardinals have acquired three minor league players from the New York Mets in exchange for All-Star right-handed reliever Ryan Helsley.
Infielder Jesus Baez, right-handed pitcher, Nate Dohm (dome), and right-handed pitcher Frank Elissalt (EL-ess-SALT) were acquired by St. Louis.
Baez, 20, was signed by the Mets as an international free agent out of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in 2022 as a 17-year-old. In 241 minor league games, Baez has reached High-A Brooklyn, batting a career .243, and smacking 30 home runs and 136 RBI while stealing 29 bases. He ranks 2nd on Brookyln with 10 home runs this season and 3rd with 42 RBI. He ranks as the No. 6 Mets prospect in Baseball America and rated as having the “Best Arm” in the organization by the “Best Tools” survey.
Dohm, 22, was the Mets 3rd round (82nd overall) selection in the 2024 MLB Draft out of Mississippi State University after transferring from Ball State University following his freshman year. The Geneva, Ill. native made 17 starts (18 appearances) between St. Lucie (A) and Brooklyn (High-A) compiling a 3-5 record with a 2.87 ERA striking out 77 batters over 62.2 innings for 11.1 strikeouts/9 IP in his first professional baseball action. He currently ranks as the No. 25 prospect in the Mets organization by Baseball America.
Elissalt, 23, was the Mets’ 19th round (563rd overall) selection in the 2024 MLB Draft out of Nova Southeastern University, the same college that produced Cardinals pitcher Miles Mikolas. Elissalt, a Miami, Fla. native began his professional career in 2024 with St. Lucie and has compiled career marks of 4-5 with a 3.02 ERA over 21 appearances making seven starts. He has a career WHIP of 0.99 over 56.2 innings and is averaging 10.5 strikeouts/9 IP.
Helsley, 30, pitched in 275 career games for St. Louis since his Major League career began in 2019. The two-time All-Star was drafted in 2015 and was the longest-tenured in the Cardinals organization.
— STL —
The first domino of hopefully a few. Not only did they get something for Helsley, they got a couple of intriguing players.
Helsley wanted to stay, but the Cardinals were ready to move on and plan for next year; it’s not to say Helsley might not be back next year, but it was safer to get 3 prospects now than getting a draft pick next year. Either way, they can attempt to sign him as a free agent, if he’s of interest to Bloom.
Baez currently plays shortstop and third, where he’ll probably end up staying. He’s lacked power in the past, but it looks like he’s started to show more as he’s progressed. He’s got the tools to be a hitter, but he needs to work on pitch recognition and going for pitches out of the zone. I think he’s a top 10 guy in the Cardinal system, but at the back end of it.
Dohm is currently in the rotation, but the long-term future looks like relieving. He’s got a mid-90s fastball that has touched 99 in short stretches. He’s got a good slider and curve ball, but needs to work on his change if he’s going to start; he’s lacking a good pitch for lefties. If that change doesn’t get better, he could be a back of the bullpen guy with a fastball-slider combo that would be tough to face. I see him in the 20-25 range of the Cardinal rankings
Elissalt is a reliever and probably shouldn’t see much time in the rotation unless he develops better secondary pitches. He throws a low-90s fastball that can touch 95; it’s got a lot of spin, causing great movement. He’s got average an average slider and change; neither is that swing and miss pitch that will make him successful. He probably won’t rank in the top 30 prospects in the system, but might sit at the back end of the top 50.
That’s a successful haul for a rental. People will see shortstop/third baseman and question why they went for him and not another position; he’s still in A-ball, so he’s got a while to develop. As he gets closer to the majors, they’ll evaluate him versus what they currently have in St. Louis and adjust. Fans need to remember they have 5 levels of pro ball rosters that they need to fill out.
Check back later for scouting reports on Blaze Jordan and anyone else the Cardinals acquire today.
