The Baltimore Orioles had one of the worst bullpens in baseball in 2025.
Baltimore finished the season with the 25th-ranked bullpen ERA at 4.57. The Orioles had a brutal season overall and finished in last place in the American League East at 75-87. Clearly, work needs to be done, and Baltimore reportedly landed its first big piece of the offseason by signing two-time All-Star Ryan Helsley, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
“Closer Ryan Helsley and the Baltimore Orioles are in agreement on a two-year contract with an opt-out after the first season, pending physical, sources tell ESPN,” Passan wrote on X on Saturday. “Helsley, who fielded interest from teams to convert to a starter, will be the ninth-inning option for Baltimore.”
Helsley won the 2024 Trevor Hoffman National League Reliever of the Year Award as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals. That season, Helsley logged a 2.04 ERA in 65 appearances to go along with 49 saves.
The 2025 season wasn’t as kind to him. Helsley began the campaign with St. Louis and had a 3.00 ERA in 36 outings before being traded to the New York Mets. With New York, Helsley had a 7.20 ERA in 22 appearances.
If Baltimore can get the 2024 version of Helsley, they could be in good shape in 2026 in the back of the bullpen. The offseason is still young, and the Orioles appear to have already solved one issue.
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