close to Ryan Helsley and this baltimore orioles Sources told ESPN the agreement on a two-year, $28 million contract, which includes an opt-out after the first season, will continue to remake Baltimore’s troubled pitching staff with one of the most sought-after relievers on the free agent market.
While several teams sought to sign Helsley as a starter, the 31-year-old right-hander decided to remain in the role that made him a two-time All-Star and assign him the ninth inning for the Orioles while maintaining the ability to reach the open market after 2026.
Helsley, whose deal is pending a physical, is the second bullpen signing of the winter for Baltimore, which has re-acquired a right-hander. Andrew Kittredge From the Cubs after moving him to Chicago at the trade deadline. With a moribund pitching staff, the Orioles went 75–87 and finished last in the American League East after missing consecutive postseason berths.
Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias scoured the free agent market for a late-inning option and landed Helsley, who has a 2.96 ERA with 377 strikeouts, 133 walks and 105 saves in 319⅔ innings over his seven-year career.
Among the lowest points were the final two months of Helsley’s 2025 season, when, following a deadline deal from St. Louis New York MetsHe posted a 7.20 ERA and allowed 36 baserunners in 20 innings. Coming off an All-Star show for St. Louis in 2024, which included a National League-leading 49 saves and a 2.04 ERA, Helsley saved 21 games with a solid 3.00 ERA for the Cardinals before the deadline, when he was traded to the Mets for three prospects.
Acquisitions to deepen New York bullpen driven by closer and fellow free agent Edwin DiazHelsley struggled badly during his time with the Mets. He saved three straight appearances in mid-August and spent much of the past month working in low-leverage situations as New York collapsed down the stretch and missed the postseason.
Baltimore saw more noise than signal in Helsley’s slump and is counting on Helsley’s stuff — which pitch-quality metrics rate as some of the best in the game — to return him to dominance. According to Statcast, Helsley deployed one of baseball’s hardest fastballs, with an average velocity of 99.3 mph in 2025, ranking in the 99th percentile of all pitchers.
with outgoing close felix bautista Expected to miss the 2026 season after rotator cuff and labrum surgery in August, the Orioles entered the winter with only right-handed players yenier canoe and left handed keegan akin As a veteran bullpen option. Beyond Helsley and Kittredge, Baltimore could add another reliever, sources said. The Orioles’ need for pitching help isn’t limited to their bullpen. Following the business of grayson rodriguez till Los Angeles Angels for left fielder taylor wardBaltimore continues to pursue starting-pitching options to add left-hander trevor rogers and right handed kyle bradish At the top of their rotation, sources said.
Selected in the fifth round out of Northeastern State in Oklahoma, Helsley was a full-time starter in all of the minor leagues until joining the Cardinals’ big league roster. From 2022 to ’24, he was arguably the most valuable reliever in the NL, along with right-handers. devin williamsA free agent with whom the Orioles also spoke.
ESPN’s Bradford Doolittle contributed to this report.
