Baltimore Orioles Sign Closer Ryan Helsley To $28 Million Deal

The Baltimore Orioles are expected to spend big this offseason, according to multiple reports from top baseball insiders. Their big winter starts by adding a high-leverage arm to their bullpen, signing former New York Met Ryan Helsley to a two-year, $28 million deal. The Orioles’ bullpen has been a weak point for years, and they are wasting no time trying to strengthen it.

Orioles Land Helsley

Jeff Passan of ESPN reported that Baltimore signed the former All-Star to a two-year deal, with an opt-out after the first season. If Helsey is able to find his former self with the Orioles, he can test the open market again and get a bigger deal. Helsley is entering a smaller market with a lot less pressure, which will benefit him in a huge way after struggling with the Mets after the Trade Deadline.

Before getting traded to Queens, Helsley was one of the best relievers in all of baseball. In 2023 and 2024, he posted an ERA below 2.50 and recorded 49 saves in 2024. There is no question that he can return to his old form; it’s just about fixing the mechanics. His fastball was his bread and butter when he was at the top of his game, but it fell flat. He still has an elite-level slider to pair with his fastball, along with a curveball and a cutter he added last year.

Helsley’s slider was virtually unhittable this season, as opposing batters hit just .122 against it, but crushed his fastball, hitting .422. In 2024, hitters hit .276 against his fastball, allowing him to set up hitters with his off-speed pitches late in counts. I think Baltimore is a great place for him to bounce back and then land a bigger deal if he opts out of his newly signed deal.

What’s Next For Baltimore?

I expect the Orioles to focus on adding to their pitching staff, especially after tradingGrayson Rodriguez to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for Taylor Ward. With many top names on the market, Baltimore is in a strong position to land a high-end starter at the Winter Meetings.

Michael King, Ranger Suarez, and Framber Valdez are atop the list of available names. With plenty of money to spend, the Baltimore Orioles should keep building both their rotation and the bullpen. Getting Ryan Helsley is an excellent start, and they need to keep pushing forward if they want to compete against the Blue Jays, Red Sox, and Yankees next year.