Detroit Tigers should make this trade with the St. Louis Cardinals

Ryan Helsley and Ryan Sherriff

Rounding out this hypothetical trade are two players who, like O’Neill, could slot in and help the Detroit Tigers in 2018.

We start with Helsley, a 23-year-old starter and former fifth-round pick.

The right-hander is already in Triple-A, albeit with just one start at the minors’ highest level under his belt, after beginning his professional career in 2015.

Making the jump from Advanced-A to Double-A and then on to Triple-A, the Northeastern State University product worked to a 2.27 ERA in 23 outings (23 starts) spanning 132.1 innings.

He struck out 137 compared to just 48 walks.

All told, that spits out to 9.3 punch outs per nine frames and 3.3 walks surrendered per nine innings. Helsley’s WHIP finished at 1.149 for the season.

Upside

MLB.com’s MLB Pipeline wrote the following about Helsley, who the publication rates as the organization’s 23^rd-best prospect:

"“Helsley has picked up some velocity since joining the Cardinals organization, and he now sits in the 93-95 mph range, with the ability to reach back and touch as high as 98 mph on occasion. His low 80s curveball continues to improve and will flash above average to plus on occasion. Helsley continues to work on his changeup, which might be an average pitch when all is said and done, and he’s working in a new cutter, with slider-like action, this season.”"

He seems likely to begin the year in the upper minors, but that the 23-year-old could be in the Majors after another strong stint.

Long-term, Helsley would give the Tigers another rotation option to utilize alongside the likes of Michael Fulmer, Franklin Perez, Beau Burrows, Alex Faedo and Matt Manning.