For once, a team can power through injury setbacks, but having your best arm sidelined for PEDs? That hits hard. And so, the Philadelphia Phillies won’t be able to shake off Jose Alvarado’s absence that easily. With Alvarado out for 80 games due to a PED suspension, the Phillies are actively searching for late-inning stability.

Sure, Alvarado will be back in mid-August. But the MLB guidelines will keep him from participating in the postseason. So, how exactly are the Phillies tackling it right now, and what are their plans?

Currently, the Phillies will lean more on Jordan Romano, Matt Strahm, and Onio Kerkering. However, the Phillies don’t plan on burdening them indefinitely. For the time being, Jordan Romano will be filling in for Alvarado. And right when the trade deadline hits, Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski will look to upgrade the team’s bullpen.

MLB insider Jon Morosi has shared his insights on who the Phillies should target for their permanent fix. According to him, when it comes to seeking external help, the Phillies should target the St. Louis Cardinals’ $8.2 million pitcher Ryan Helsley.

He emphasized how it was “a massive blow” for the Phillies to continue without Alvarado. Morosi mentioned, “If they (Cardinals) end up selling someone like Ryan Helseley, it could be a really good fit for the Phillies.” He has recently delivered his sixth straight scoreless inning against the Royals, which tallies his ninth save of the campaign.

Given Helsley’s impressive performance in the closer role, Morosi’s suggestion made sense as the perfect fit for the Phillies externally. Over 16 innings, Helsley sits with a 2.81 ERA. “But again, we’re still in the middle part of May. Effectively, the Phillies probably have to stay internal for the upgrades,” pointed out Morosi.

Helsley’s contract with the Cardinals will end by the end of this year. So, it’s very likely that the Phillies will target him to fix their bullpen woes.

Meanwhile, the Cardinals have been doing pretty well. They have won 12 out of their last 14 games. So, selling Helsley could derail their own playoff chase…

If the Cardinals trade Helsley, they might eye this Phillies pitcher

The St. Louis Cardinals, sitting at 26-21, are in a good place. They come second in the NL Central and are just 2 games behind the Chicago Cubs. While the team is thriving, the spotlight is currently on their All-Star closer, Ryan Helsley. But as his contract comes to an end this year, he is likely to be traded.

And if they decide to deal with the Phillies and sell Helsley, they should keep an eye on right-hander Mick Abel. Why, you ask?

Well, after Alvarado’s news was announced, the Phillies went up against the Pittsburgh Pirates. All eyes were on Mike Abel, who made his major league debut at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies dominated the Pirates and handed them a 1-0 defeat. Abel impressed the league with six scoreless innings, five allowed hits, 0 walks, and nine strikeouts.

You see, it’s very unlikely that the Cardinals will re-sign Helsley. So, trading him before the end of his contract will probably be the best. And their priority would be to get Mike Abel. But reportedly, there are also chances of trading Helsley to the Detroit Tigers. And well, the Tigers have a loaded farm system.

Evidently, the options will be more flexible there. According to Bleacher Report, the Detroit Tigers have the second-best farm system in the league. Especially the duo of Max Clark and Kevin McGonigle has set the standard for the team. Plus, the Tigers aren’t an NL rival to the Cardinals. So, naturally, they won’t be facing Helsley that often.

Well, speculations are going deep into this. But for a definite answer, we might need to wait a little longer…