Orioles Sign Helsley to Two-Year, $28M Deal

The Baltimore Orioles bolstered their bullpen Saturday by signing free agent reliever Ryan Helsley to a two-year, $28 million contract, with the 31-year-old right-hander expected to serve as the team's closer. The deal includes an opt-out clause after the 2026 season and is pending a physical, according to sources familiar with the negotiations.

Helsley, a two-time All-Star during his tenure with the St. Louis Cardinals, brings proven late-inning experience to a Baltimore squad seeking to rebound from a disappointing 2025 campaign. The Orioles finished last in the American League East with a 77-85 record, hampered by a bullpen that ranked 25th in the majors with a 4.57 ERA. Their primary closer, Félix Bautista, underwent surgery for a torn rotator cuff and labrum in his right shoulder and is projected to miss most of the 2026 season.

Over his seven-year major league career, Helsley has compiled a 31-18 record with a 2.96 ERA, 377 strikeouts and 105 saves in 297 appearances. He earned the National League Reliever of the Year award in 2024, leading the majors with 49 saves while posting a 2.04 ERA in 66 1/3 innings. That season marked his second All-Star selection and highlighted...