The Philadelphia Phillies might have considered right-handed pitching prospect Mick Abel untouchable at one point. Is that still the case?
Abel was the Phillies' first-round pick in the 2020 Major League Baseball Draft, and at 23, he could be in the majors at some point this season. But he struggled so much in 2024 that he fell down the prospect rankings considerably, and his trade value is a bit foggy these days.
After a strong start to the new season (2.75 ERA, 42 strikeouts in 39 1/3 innings), one baseball insider is calling upon the Phillies to trade Abel to help their struggling bullpen.
On Monday, Jim Bowden of The Athletic pitched five hypothetical trades he'd "like to see" happen in May, and the list included the Phillies dealing Abel to the St. Louis Cardinals for two-time All-Star closer Ryan Helsley.
"Dave Dombrowski told me during an interview on the “Front Office Show” on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM that Philadelphia has a need on the right side of the bullpen. The Phillies president of baseball operations made it clear that he views it as their biggest need," Bowden wrote.
"I think their top target should be Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley, who is considered one of the best in the sport... For the Phillies to give up Abel in this deal, it’s only fair that they have a chance to extend Helsley at the time of the trade."
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Helsley, 30, has a 3.75 ERA and five saves through 12 innings this year. He was completely dominant in 2024, racking up 49 saves, winning the National League Reliever of the Year Award, and striking out 78 batters in 66 innings.
The aforementioned extension could be the sticking point for either side. Spotrac projects Helsley for a six-year, $81 million contract, which would be the third-largest deal ever for a reliever.
The Phillies could wind up regretting such a deal in a major way if Helsley left in free agency or lost his fastball early on in his hypothetical extension. But sometimes, championship teams have to take big risks.
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