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Ryan Helsley agreed to a two-year, $28 million deal with the Orioles, including a player opt-out after one year.Helsley will become Baltimore’s closer, replacing Felix Bautista who is sidelined for 2026 after surgery.Despite a poor finish with the Mets, Helsley remains one of MLB’s top relievers, boasting a 99.3 mph fastball.Baltimore’s bullpen overhaul follows a disappointing 2025 season and includes reacquiring Andrew Kittredge.Orioles continue to pursue starting pitching to reinforce their rotation after trading Grayson Rodriguez.Ryan Helsley: Baltimore’s New Bullpen Anchor

In a move that signals both ambition and urgency, the Baltimore Orioles have agreed to a two-year, $28 million contract with right-handed reliever Ryan Helsley, sources confirmed to ESPN and The Athletic. The deal includes a player opt-out after the first season, giving Helsley flexibility and the Orioles a much-needed weapon for late innings. The agreement, pending a physical, is poised to reshape Baltimore’s bullpen after a season marked by disappointment and transition.

Why Helsley? Orioles Target Elite Relief in Tumultuous Offseason

The Orioles’ pitching staff, once a source of strength, faltered badly in 2025. Baltimore finished last in the American League East with a 75-87 record, a stark contrast to their consecutive postseason appearances just a year prior. The team’s struggles were compounded when closer Felix Bautista underwent rotator cuff and labrum surgeries, ruling him out for the entire 2026 season. Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias made it clear during the MLB general managers’ meetings: he was shopping for a frontline starter, an elite reliever, and a veteran bat.

Ryan Helsley checked the most urgent box. Over seven MLB seasons, the 31-year-old has compiled a 2.96 ERA across 319⅔ innings, racking up 377 strikeouts, 133 walks, and 105 saves. He’s been a full-time starter in the minors, but in the big leagues, Helsley made his mark as a closer. From 2022 to 2024, he emerged as one of the National League’s top relievers, even leading the majors with 49 saves in 2024 and earning two All-Star nods. His fastball, averaging 99.3 mph in 2025, ranked in the 99th percentile among all pitchers according to Statcast—a testament to his elite pitch quality.

From St. Louis Star to Mets’ Struggles: A Tale of Two Seasons

Helsley’s 2025 campaign was a rollercoaster. With the Cardinals, he converted 21 of 26 save opportunities, posting a strong 3.00 ERA before being traded to the New York Mets at the deadline. The Mets, desperate to bolster a bullpen led by Edwin Diaz, expected Helsley to be the missing piece. Instead, he stumbled. Over 22 appearances, Helsley’s ERA ballooned to 7.20. He allowed 36 baserunners in 20 innings, blew saves in three consecutive outings, and was relegated to low-leverage situations as the Mets’ playoff hopes faded.

In a candid interview with The Athletic, Helsley pointed to pitch tipping and predictability as the root causes of his late-season woes. “You’re in the game, and the game speeds up, you’re in the moment, and you’re not thinking about your arm,” he explained. “You naturally go back to what feels right, but obviously, you’re giving stuff away.” He noted that Mets’ analytics indicated his pitch quality was at its career-best, but hitters had figured him out. “It was almost a double-confirmation for hitters. They see it with their eyes, and they also had a stat behind it saying I’m more likely to throw this pitch in a certain count. It just gave them that much more comfort in the box, and more conviction.”

Despite his struggles in New York, interest in Helsley remained robust. Nearly 15 teams checked in, including the Detroit Tigers, who even considered him as a starter. Ultimately, Helsley opted to remain a closer, the role where he’s thrived and earned his reputation.

Baltimore’s Bullpen Gets a Makeover

Helsley’s arrival marks the second major bullpen move for Baltimore this offseason, following the reacquisition of Andrew Kittredge from the Chicago Cubs. With Bautista sidelined, the Orioles had only Yennier Cano and Keegan Akin as experienced late-inning options. Helsley’s contract, featuring the player opt-out, offers both security and upside for the club. Baltimore isn’t done yet—sources indicate the team is exploring further additions to their relief corps and searching for starting pitchers to stabilize their rotation after trading Grayson Rodriguez for outfielder Taylor Ward.

The need for pitching help is clear. Helsley’s presence should provide stability, but it’s his potential for dominance that excites Orioles fans and front office alike. His strikeouts-per-nine-innings rate has topped 10 for four consecutive years. Even in his roughest stretches, analytics suggest his stuff remains elite.

The Stakes: Redemption and Reinvention

For Helsley, Baltimore represents a chance to reclaim his All-Star form. For the Orioles, it’s a bet that advanced metrics matter more than a rough patch. Helsley’s resilience and ability to adapt will be tested, especially as he assumes the closer role for a team hungry to return to contention. The contract’s opt-out clause is a strategic nod to mutual trust: Helsley can explore free agency again if he rebounds, while Baltimore gets a proven late-inning arm without long-term risk.

The Orioles’ offseason isn’t over. With several high-profile starters still on the market—names like Framber Valdez, Tatsuya Imai, Zac Gallen, Ranger Suárez, and Michael King—their focus is shifting toward building a rotation that can support their retooled bullpen. The coming months will determine whether Baltimore’s gamble on Helsley pays off, but for now, the club has landed one of the game’s most electric relievers at a crucial moment.

Helsley’s signing is a calculated risk rooted in both analytics and faith in his track record. The Orioles are betting that his late-season struggles are fixable and that his fastball, among the league’s very best, will restore their bullpen’s competitive edge. If Helsley can rediscover his form, this deal could be the turning point for Baltimore’s pitching staff in 2026.