I don't think Castro gets traded now. Helman was the cheap version of Castro who could play every position except catcher. Nobody else in the upper parts of the organization does that besides these two.

I think it's also a clue that a trade for Dylan Cease isn't how 40-man spots will be opened 

I was surprised Helman lasted this long on the roster, based on the multiple times he had been passed on for a call-up. Maybe the Cardinals will get something out of him, it'd be a fun story to see some MLB success for him.

36 minutes ago, Danchat said:

I was surprised Helman lasted this long on the roster, based on the multiple times he had been passed on for a call-up. Maybe the Cardinals will get something out of him, it'd be a fun story to see some MLB success for him.

Probably hit .306 with a .385 OBP🥴

I would have thought we could have gotten something for Helman. Can play multiple positions and hit really well this year. .270/.350, 14 HR and 17 SB in about 70 games in AAA. Those are good numbers, and he's right handed. Could he have been an OF option for us? I think he could have been better served as part of a trade package for Cease. 

13 hours ago, FlyingFinn said:

I don't think Castro gets traded now. Helman was the cheap version of Castro who could play every position except catcher. Nobody else in the upper parts of the organization does that besides these two.

Will Holland does that and he hit better than Helman last season.

35 minutes ago, LambchoP said:

I would have thought we could have gotten something for Helman. Can play multiple positions and hit really well this year. .270/.350, 14 HR and 17 SB in about 70 games in AAA. Those are good numbers, and he's right handed. Could he have been an OF option for us? I think he could have been better served as part of a trade package for Cease. 

There are a dozen guys like Michael Helman who will have to settle for a minor league contract this offseason. Many of those guys will have MLB experience already. The Twins maxed out his trade value with this move.

You know what's really sad? This is the biggest move the Cardinals have made this offseason.

4 hours ago, LambchoP said:

I would have thought we could have gotten something for Helman. Can play multiple positions and hit really well this year. .270/.350, 14 HR and 17 SB in about 70 games in AAA. Those are good numbers, and he's right handed. Could he have been an OF option for us? I think he could have been better served as part of a trade package for Cease. 

Every team probably has someone like that already, or close.  Low demand means StL can pick him up for cash, DFA him if they need to with few regrets.  Baseball economics are not linear.

Helman must be able to play a decent enough CF for the Cardinals to see him as  possibly an improvement over what their backups last year were. They hit about like what Vasquez did.  As a likely cheap purchase, Helman is a potential filler for what the Cardinals do not have. 

Not too bad, TD only crashed twice while typing this