BALTIMORE — The offers coming into Ryan Helsley’s agents at Wasserman in recent weeks were wide and varying, giving the 31-year-old right-hander plenty to think about.
If Helsley wanted to get back to being a closer — the role he held with the Cardinals from 2022-25, before getting traded to the Mets and becoming a setup man — he had multiple options. But there were also MLB teams interested in converting Helsley to a starter, something he hadn’t done since the Minor Leagues in 2019.
In the end, Helsley picked the offer from the Orioles — a two-year deal worth $28 million that features an opt-out after the 2026 season. In doing so, Helsley opted to return to a closer’s role, as he’ll be the primary ninth-inning arm for an O’s team missing Félix Bautista, who is rehabbing from right shoulder surgery and won’t return until late August/September, at the earliest.
“When they first reached out, that’s kind of what they said and what they envisioned for me and for my job to be with this team,” Helsley said in a Zoom call with reporters on Wednesday. “Other teams offered the closer role, too, but I was lucky enough to have stuff to choose and pick from, which I think made it hard in itself, having options. But I’m thankful for that, and I’m glad to be here.”
Others have had success in such transitions — Helsley noted how both Garrett Crochet and Seth Lugo have done so. But for Helsley, this wasn’t the time to do that, as he’ll instead remain in the bullpen, the only home he’s had during his seven-year big league career.
“I told my agent at the start of the offseason that if teams asked, I’m willing to listen and open to it,” Helsley said. “Just weighed the options and the risks, and they just didn’t seem to line up with where I was at in my career and what we were really looking for.”
It also worked in the Orioles’ favor that they made such a successful pitch to Helsley.
“We had some good discussions,” Helsley said. “They didn’t lay out a full detailed plan in our meetings before I signed, but they had some ideas, and they have the resources to help me get back to where I want to be and help me get that feel back on my fastball and maybe add a pitch or two or refine some things.”
From 2022-24, Helsley was among the best closers in baseball. He recorded a 1.83 ERA and 82 saves over 152 appearances during that span, and he was an All-Star in both ‘22 and ‘24. Helsley also won the Trevor Hoffman Award (given to the NL’s best reliever) in ‘24, when he had a 2.04 ERA in 65 games and led MLB with a career-high 49 saves.
In 2025, Helsley wasn’t as effective. He had a 3.00 ERA and 21 saves in 36 games, then got traded from the Cardinals to the Mets. In New York, the righty posted a 7.20 ERA over 22 outings while working through pitch-tipping issues in his new setup role.
Helsley’s four-seam fastball still averaged 99.3 mph this past season, hitting triple digits 158 times and maxing out at 103.8. Yet, opponents hit a whopping .422 against his heater.
“I don’t know if there was just one thing we could really put our finger on. But I think being behind in counts and then throwing a fastball when a hitter’s looking for it obviously doesn’t help,” Helsley said. “Just working on getting ahead and making better pitches with it, honestly, is what it boils down to, and not being so predictable.”
With the Mets, Helsley adjusted his posture and hand positioning to avoid tipping pitches. He believes those issues have been “ironed out.” If that’s the case — and if he can make his fastball less hittable — a bounce-back season could be on the horizon.
That’s what the Orioles are banking on, and that’s what Helsley is aiming to do — be lights out, rack up saves and help Baltimore (75-87 this past season) have a bounce back of its own.
“It just seemed like a great fit, honestly,” Helsley said. “I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of this organization.”
