Image credit:
Jesus Baez (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images)
The Mets completed their third trade for a reliever on an expiring contract before the trade deadline, swapping three prospects for Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley on Wednesday. New York sends a trio of players from its High-A Brooklyn affiliate: third baseman Jesus Baez and righthanders Nate Dohm and Frank Elissalt.
Prior to adding Helsley, the Mets had traded for Orioles lefty Gregory Soto and Giants submariner Tyler Rogers. That trio of relievers becomes primary high-leverage options ahead of Mets closer Edwin Diaz.
Mets Receive
Ryan Helsley, RHP
Age: 31
After spending parts of seven seasons in the Cardinals’ bullpen, Helsley for the first time will play for a team besides the one that drafted him. Selected out of D-II Northeastern State in the fifth round of the 2015 draft, Helsley established himself as the Cardinals’ full-time closer in 2024 when he racked up 49 saves on 53 chances.
This season, Helsley has seen his upper-90s fastball get hit in the zone at a higher rate than in years prior. This, in turn, has led to a career-high five blown saves. Helsley has still been effective, though, closing 21 games while striking out 26.1% of batters faced.
Helsley mixes a four-seam fastball that sits at 98-99 mph and features heavy ride and cut with an upper-80s gyro slider. While his fastball has played down in 2025, his slider remains a wipeout pitch that generates whiffs at high rates. Helsley is likely to slot in as the eighth-inning option for the Mets in front of closer Edwin Diaz.
Cardinals Receive
Jesus Baez, 3B/SS
Age: 20
The Mets signed Baez out of the Dominican Republic in 2022, and he showed power potential almost immediately with quality exit velocities and solid home run totals for a teenager. He reached High-A as a 19-year-old in 2024 but suffered a torn meniscus that required surgery. The injury ended his season and forced a late start to 2025, when Baez scuffled out of the gate. The 20-year-old has shown flashes of potential, such as a .993 OPS in May, but is hitting .244/.334/.406 with 10 home runs in 69 games for Brooklyn.
Baez has a filled-out, 5-foot-10 frame with enough strength and bat speed to approach average power if he can rein in his aggressive hitting approach. He is an above-average defender with a strong arm at third base who can fill in at shortstop and second base.
Nate Dohm, RHP
Age: 22
The Mets drafted Dohm out of Mississippi State in the third round last year. He moved from the bullpen to rotation as a college junior but had his season abbreviated by an arm injury. Dohm’s 17 starts this season for Low-A St. Lucie and High-A Brooklyn are already more than he made in his college career.
The 22-year-old pitches off a 93-94 mph fastball with riding life. He mixes in a low-80s slider and firm changeup, as well as an occasional sinker and curveball. Dohm has the potential for an average-to-above arsenal that could play at the back of a rotation or in the bullpen. This season he has pitched to a 4.02 ERA with 77 strikeouts and 23 walks in 62.2 innings, allowing five home runs.
Frank Elissalt, RHP
Age: 23
Drafted in the 19th round out of D-II Nova Southeastern in 2024, Elissalt spent the first half of 2025 with Low-A St. Lucie before being promoted to High-A Brooklyn on July 18. Elissalt has pitched in 2-3 inning chunks this season but has started to work deeper into games over the last few months.
The righthander has seen a noticeable velocity jump on his fastball and slider since his time as an amateur, as he now sits 94-95 mph, touching 96 at peak on his four-seam. His fastball generates above-average ride from a lower release height allowing the pitch to play when elevated. Elissalt’s primary secondary is a slider in the 84-86 mph range with tighter gyro shape. He’ll mix in a low-80s curveball with heavy sweep and a changeup in the mid 80s. His pitch shapes lack consistency, and his command is often spotty, limiting Elissalt to an up-and-down relief role long term.
Source link
