The Baltimore Orioles reportedly signed right-handed relief pitcher Ryan Helsley on Saturday, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. The deal runs for two years and is worth $28 million, or $14 million per year, pending a physical.
Helsley’s acquisition bolsters a depleted Baltimore bullpen that is operating without closer Félix Bautista for 2026. The team also traded away relievers Seranthony Dominguez and Gregory Soto in a fire sale during the trade deadline.
Ryan Helsley Offers Orioles Big Potential if He Can Fix Struggles
The 31-year-old veteran is a former two-time All-Star for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2022 and 2024. After a rocky 2021 campaign, Helsley tossed three years of sub-2.50 ERA ball and led MLB in saves in 2024 with 49. He also held a 12.1 strikeout rate per nine innings and a WHIP of 0.954 between 2022 and 2024.
Ryan Helsley is headed to Baltimore pic.twitter.com/A70Z9lqEfC
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) November 29, 2025
For his performance in 2024, Helsley earned Trevor Hoffman National League Reliever of the Year honors.
Helsley regressed significantly in 2025, surrendering eight home runs in 56 innings, along with a ballooning walk rate. His struggles intensified after being traded to the New York Mets at the trade deadline, pitching to a 7.20 ERA over 20 innings. The 31-year-old also held a 1.800 WHIP and a walk rate of five per nine innings.
Between 2024 and 2025, Helsley saw his barrel percentage jump from four to seven percent, alongside a six-point jump in hard-hit rate. He still holds a well-above-average in chase and whiff rates, but they are still below his 2024 levels. The good news is that he is a ground-ball pitcher, with 45% of all balls in play hitting the dirt.
Ryan Helsley (signed by BAL) is a flame-throwing reliever who has some of the best raw stuff in MLB. He consistently hits triple digits and his slider is nasty. An inflated HR/FB rate soured his 2025 and Baltimore hopes that he can return to his All-Star form next season https://t.co/5sU3cwPILa pic.twitter.com/hyzuIWvjt0
— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) November 29, 2025
The problem is that his four-seam fastball is no longer effective. The batting average on it jumped from .276 in 2024 to .422 in 2025, along with a doubling in slugging percentage. It could be due to a lack of a horizontal break that allows hitters to track the pitch more easily with their eyes. Combined with a drop in whiff rates from his put-away slider pitch, the regression has a real single point of failure.
The Orioles likely will focus on redeveloping Helsley’s fastball in the offseason. If he can find it again, there is a good chance he could revert to prime form.
Helsley Provides a Needed Strikeout Closer
Baltimore’s three premier strikeout pitchers, Bautista, Dominguez, and Soto, are either injured or no longer with the team. It addresses a lingering question of where the next strikeout machine will come from. It also solves the closer question.
Helsley is expected to take the closer spot for the next two years as Bautista rehabs from injury. He is not expected to return until August 2026, barring any setbacks. Even then, there could be questions about his ability to perform at the level he once did.
The team is also expecting to get Albert Suarez back from injury in 2026, which could help their bullpen. They could also turn to Rico Garcia as a setup or middle-reliever option in late-game situations.
The Orioles Still Have Cap Room
Helsley’s abilities aside, the team is likely not done making big moves for their lineup and their bullpen. Following the acquisition, the team’s projected payroll total is expected to sit at $137 million at current estimates. Helsley’s contract would be the second-largest on the team behind outfielder Tyler O’Neill.
It’s unclear what the budget for Baltimore is, but the team might be on track to spend serious money to elevate its roster in multiple areas. Expect the bullpen to get another upgrade if there is room left after adding players to their starting rotation and lineup.
Main Photo Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
The post Newest Orioles Acquisition Provides High-Risk, High-Reward Value appeared first on Last Word On Baseball.