After an ugly stint with the Mets, Ryan Helsley — one of the game’s premier relief pitchers the previous three seasons — could be the next one to change roles.
Teams, including the Detroit Tigers, have inquired about the right-hander as a starter in the early part of free agency, according to The Athletic.
Helsley would be following in the footsteps of Mets teammate Clay Holmes, as well as another former Met, Seth Lugo, and ex-Yankee Michael King, in making the transition from reliever to starter.
The 31-year-old right-hander has made 297 appearances in the majors, all of them out of the bullpen.
Ryan Helsley pitches against the Miami Marlins during the seventh inning at loanDepot park on September 28, 2025, in Miami, Florida. Getty Images
The last time Helsley started was in 2019 while with Triple-A Memphis in the Cardinals organization.
He emerged as a top reliever in 2022 and was an All-Star in ‘22 and 2024 before a shaky first half with the Cardinals last season.
A trade to the Mets before the deadline didn’t help, as Helsley was an enormous disappointment in Queens, due in part to pitch-tipping issues.
He gave up 16 earned runs in 20 innings over 22 appearances, with a WHIP of 1.800, as the Mets failed to make the playoffs.
Helsley is heavily reliant on a four-seam fastball and slider, but also has a cutter and a curveball.
Coming off a rocky final second half with the Yankees last offseason, Holmes got a three-year, $38 million deal from the Mets and was fairly solid as a starter.
Ryan Helsley pitches during the game between the Washington Nationals and the New York Mets at Citi Field on Saturday, September 20, 2025, in New York, New York. MLB Photos via Getty Images
He finished with a 3.53 ERA and led the rotation with 31 starts, while King is a free agent following a season in which he was impacted by shoulder and knee inflammation.
On the reliever side, the strong free agent class includes another Met, Edwin Diaz, as well as Devin Williams, Pete Fairbanks, Robert Suárez and Kenley Jansen.
Another free agent, Luke Weaver — who became a full-time reliever with the Yankees in 2024 — said late in the season he’d be “open” to starting again when he was on “The Show with Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman.”