Ryan Helsley Fantasy Stats

Free-agent right-hander Ryan Helsley agreed to a two-year, $28 million deal with the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday, a source told Katie Woo of The Athletic. Helsely will have the ability to opt out of the deal after his first season in Baltimore. Reports suggested that interested MLB teams were looking at making the 31-year-old veteran into a starting pitcher for next season, but the O's will keep him as a reliever. A dreadful two-month period with the New York Mets in 2025 did little to deter interest in him around the league, as around 15 teams checked in on him this offseason, including the Detroit Tigers. Helsley was an All-Star in 2024 with the St. Louis Cardinals, when he led baseball with 49 saves. He converted 21 of 26 save chances for St. Louis this past season, but he had a 7.20 ERA in 22 outings after being traded to the Mets. He was struggling with predictability issues and pitch tipping. Felix Bautista (shoulder) isn't expected to be ready until late next season, so Helsley should be Baltimore's primary closer for most of 2026.

The Detroit Tigers are among the teams talking to free-agent right-hander Ryan Helsley about becoming a starter next year, according to people familiar with his market. Helsley has not started since 2019 while at Triple-A Memphis in the St. Louis Cardinals' organization. If the 31-year-old veteran were to return to a starting role, he would need to expand his repertoire, as he threw more than 90% sliders and four-seam fastballs with the Cardinals and New York Mets in 2025. However, he does have a curveball, and he added a cutter in spring training. The market for closers is pretty deep this offseason, so Helsley would expand his possibilities on the open market this winter if he's willing to start. Helsley led the big leagues with 49 saves in 2024, but the two-time All-Star struggled to a 4.50 ERA and 1.54 WHIP this year while saving 21 games with the Cards. He was tipping pitches at times and had a rough 7.20 ERA in 20 innings after joining the Mets.

The New York Mets traded right-handed pitching prospect Nate Dohm, along with infield prospect Jesus Baez and pitching prospect Frank Elissalt, in exchange for reliever Ryan Helsley from the Cardinals. Dohm was. The number 14 prospect in the Mets system, according to MLB Pipeline. The 2024 third-round pick has pitched 62.2 innings this season between Low-A and High-A in the Mets system, collecting a 2.87 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and a 20.2% K-BB%. The 6'4" righty throws from a 5.7' release height and features a four-seamer that sits around 93 mph with high carry, consistently locates it in the zone, and generates a 13% swinging strike rate. He rounds out his arsenal with a gyro slider, changeup, and curveball that have had mixed results. The development of his secondary pitches will be an area to watch for him as he enters the St. Louis farm system, beginning at High-A Peoria.

The New York Mets are finalizing a deal on Wednesday to acquire right-handed closer Ryan Helsley from the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for shortstop/third baseman Jesus Baez and right-handers Nate Dohm and Frank Elissalt, league sources tell Will Sammon of The Athletic. Helsley, 31, has had his hiccups this year and is sporting a 3.00 ERA (3.51 FIP) and 1.39 WHIP in 36 innings pitched, but he still has 21 saves and 41 strikeouts in 36 innings pitched. The Mets were not done fortifying their bullpen after overpaying for Giants right-handed submariner Tyler Rogers earlier in the day. Helsley had a league-best 49 saves for the Red Birds as a second-time All-Star in 2023 and will now move to Queens, where his fantasy value is going to take a big hit now that he's going to operate as a late-inning setup man in front of Mets current closer Edwin Diaz.

St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Ryan Helsley has been a hot name ahead of this Thursday's trade deadline. The two-time All-Star is on an expiring deal and could be a legitimate back-end bullpen option for many contending teams. This season, Helsley holds a 3.00 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, and a 41/14 K/BB ratio with 21 saves in 36 games with the Cardinals. There should be plenty of teams in on Helsley, but the Toronto Blue Jays are the most recent team to throw their hat in the race. It's worth noting that the Blue Jays did acquire right-hander Seranthony Dominguez on Tuesday. However, it doesn't appear they're done adding bullpen and could make a splash with Helsley. The 31-year-old is one of the best arms available, so it could be a hefty price for whoever acquires him.

St. Louis Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley preserved a shutout to earn save No. 21 in a 3-0 win over the San Diego Padres on Friday. Helsley tossed a scoreless, one-hit ninth inning with two strikeouts for his second save in as many nights. The 31-year-old right-hander has converted seven straight saves since his most recent blown opportunity on June 9, and he has allowed just two runs in his past 12 appearances. Helsley's ERA has fallen to an even 3.00 with 41:14 K:BB over 36 innings. As a proven high-leverage option, he's on many teams' radars leading up to the July 31 deadline. The Cardinals are just 1 1/2 games out of a wild-card spot, though, so there's a chance they'll keep Helsley for the rest of the season.

St. Louis Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley has drawn interest from five or more teams leading up to the July 31 trade deadline, Katie Woo and Will Sammon of The Athletic report. The Cardinals improved to 53-51 with a 9-7 win over the San Diego Padres on Thursday and haven't publicly declared themselves sellers yet. Nevertheless, Helsley expects to change teams in the next week. "I would say it's 90 percent I go, 10 percent I stay," he said. The 31-year-old is due to become a free agent after the season, and if the Cardinals don't expect to re-sign Helsley or issue him a qualifying offer, it would make sense to move him now. Helsley converted his 20th save in 25 chances on Thursday with a scoreless ninth inning in which he allowed one hit and struck out two. The hard-throwing right-hander hasn't been as dominant as he was from 2022-24, but he has still logged a strong 3.09 ERA with 39:14 K:BB over 35 innings.

The St. Louis Cardinals remain undecided whether they will trade closer Ryan Helsley at the deadline. Still, since they don't plan to tender him a qualifying offer, they realize they may have no choice but to move him with at least five contenders showing interest, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports. While this is speculation, it certainly makes sense from a baseball perspective. The 31-year-old closer for the Cardinals is having another nice season with 19 saves in 24 opportunities. He owns a 3.18 ERA, with a 9.79 K/9 and a 1.41 WHIP. While the WHIP and batting average against (.254) are a bit high for Helsley based on his career numbers (1.13 WHIP and .199 opponent BA), he is still converting saves and is a sought-after asset for a lot of contenders at the deadline. Fantasy managers will want to keep an eye on where Helsley lands, as it's possible that his landing spot could change his outlook and impact his opportunities, depending on where he ultimately lands.

St. Louis Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley is a potential trade candidate as the July 31 deadline approaches, but he's "more likely" to remain with the team through the season, according to Katie Woo of The Athletic. Helsley will be a free agent over the winter, but even if the Cardinals don't re-sign the flamethrowing right-hander, they could get draft compensation back by issuing him a qualifying offer. In the meantime, Helsley could help the Cardinals chase down a playoff spot. They'll enter the second half of the season just 1 1/2 games out of wild-card position. While Helsley has helped the Cardinals' cause to this point, he hasn't been nearly as effective as he was from 2022-24. Over that three-season, 167 2/3-inning span, Helsley put up a lights-out 1.83 ERA with 12.08 K/9, 3.22 BB/9, and 82 saves in 95 chances. The 31-year-old has gone 19-for-24 on saves this season and pitched to a 3.27 ERA with 36:14 K:BB across 33 innings.

St. Louis Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley finished off a 5-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Sunday, picking up his 19th save. Helsley made things interesting in this one, allowing a walk and a single before getting three straight outs, including a strikeout, to escape the jam. The 30-year-old fireballer has been decent this year, converting 19 of 24 save opportunities and pitching to a 3.27 ERA and 1.42 WHIP with 36 strikeouts in 33 IP. There are some worrisome signs, as Helsley has allowed too many baserunners and is striking out fewer batters than in previous seasons. Still, he hasn't been bad enough for the Cardinals to consider taking him out of the closer role, so fantasy owners should roll with him as long as he keeps getting the job done.