After fielding one of the worst bullpens in MLB last season, the Baltimore Orioles are adding some firepower.
The Orioles agreed to a two-year deal with right-handed closer Ryan Helsley, pending a physical, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported Saturday.
The deal is worth $28 million and comes with an opt-out after the first year, per Katie Woo of The Athletic.
Helsley had fielded interest from teams to convert to starting, but he will likely serve as the Orioles’ closer, per Passan.
The 31-year-old has been one of the top relief pitchers in baseball the past few seasons, earning all-star nods in 2022 and 2024 with the St. Louis Cardinals. He pitched to a 2.04 ERA with an MLB-leading 49 saves in the latter season.
However, he took a step back in 2025, posting a 4.50 ERA in 58 appearances with only 21 saves, splitting the season between the Cardinals and New York Mets following a mid-season trade.
The Orioles had the sixth-worst bullpen ERA in MLB last season at 4.57 after dealing with injuries, inconsistencies and a deadline-day sell-off.
Helsley marks the second major bullepn move for the Orioles as they try to renovate their bullpen. They also re-acquired righty Andrew Kittredge from the Chicago Cubs in early November.
