The New York Mets swung a few big trades at the trade deadline to bolster their roster, but they still missed the postseason, and a lot of their trade additions are headed for free agency this winter.
Pitcher Ryan Helsley is a free agent now, and it doesn’t seem like the Mets are going to re-sign him. Jim Bowden of The Athletic projected Helsley would sign a one-year, $10 million deal this winter, which should fit perfectly for any contending team.
The Athletic’s Andy McCullough recently predicted Helsley would sign with the Texas Rangers in free agency this offseason.
“By cutting loose outfielder Adolis GarcÃa and catcher Jonah Heim, the Rangers freed up money to spend for 2026,” McCullough wrote. “By taking on the contract of Brandon Nimmo, owner Ray Davis saved some cash in 2026 while taking on more money in the long term. The team should lean into its pitching strength from 2025. Helsley combusted during his time with the Mets this past summer, but a good chunk of that failure could be chalked up to pitch tipping.”
Helsley struggled a bit with the Mets down the stretch, but if he can hone in on the pitch tipping that was rumored to be a big problem, the star righty could dominate again next season.
The Rangers need to add quite a bit of talent to their roster. The bullpen needs help going forward, and Helsley could slide in as a high-leverage arm for the next few years. If the Rangers can add Helsley, they’d be in a much better spot next season than they are right now.
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