Orioles Land Ryan Helsley, Add Power Arm to Bullpen Mix
The Orioles have officially added a major piece to their bullpen, locking in Ryan Helsley on a two-year, $28 million deal after he passed his physical. The hard-throwing right-hander, who’s coming off a rollercoaster of a season, now gets a fresh start in Baltimore - and the chance to anchor the back end of a bullpen that’s already been one of the most effective in baseball.
Helsley was one of the most sought-after relievers on the market this offseason. Reportedly, half the league had at least checked in on the 30-year-old flamethrower. So why Baltimore?
There’s no doubt the Orioles’ aggressive pursuit played a part. The front office has made it clear they’re not content with just contending - they want to win, and win now.
Helsley’s deal includes an opt-out, giving him some flexibility should he want to test the market again after 2026. But for now, he’s all in on a team that’s on the rise.
Though he’s never started a game in the majors, some teams reportedly pitched him on the idea of stretching out into a rotation role. That’s not out of left field - 69 of his 87 minor league outings came as a starter, and he started 21 of 26 games in college. But the Orioles are bringing him in to close, not to experiment.
Helsley’s 2025 season was a bit of a mixed bag. After a midseason trade from the Cardinals to the Mets, his performance dipped.
There was chatter around the league that he might’ve been tipping pitches - a small mechanical tell that hitters can pick up on and exploit. Whatever the issue was, he seemed to make the necessary adjustments, and the Orioles clearly believe he’s back to form.
His fastball? Still electric.
He averaged 99.3 mph this past season - elite velocity even in today’s game. But oddly, hitters did serious damage against it, batting .422 and slugging .667 off the pitch.
That’s not a typo. It’s a stat that jumps off the page and raises eyebrows.
The Orioles’ analytics team will no doubt be digging into pitch shape, location, and sequencing to figure out how to get that heater back to being a weapon, not a liability.
Helsley has already pitched at Camden Yards - and pitched well. Four appearances, four scoreless innings.
Small sample size, sure, but it’s a good start. And yes, he’s expected to keep “Hells Bells” as his entrance music.
The nickname “Hellz Bellz” isn’t going anywhere either.
Off the field, Helsley brings a unique background to the clubhouse. He’s a member of the Cherokee Nation and speaks the language - a point of pride for him, and something that adds to the diverse fabric of this Orioles roster.
Orioles in the Draft Lottery Hunt
For the first time in a while, the Orioles will have a reason to pay attention to the MLB Draft Lottery, which takes place next Tuesday during the Winter Meetings in Orlando. After a string of playoff appearances, Baltimore finds itself back in the mix for a top pick - a rare silver lining to a last-place finish.
The Orioles have a 9.24% chance at landing the No. 1 overall pick. That puts them behind the White Sox (27.73%), Twins (22.18%), and Pirates (16.81%), and just ahead of the Athletics (6.55%). All non-playoff teams are entered in the lottery for the top six selections.
Recent history has shown that the lottery can be unpredictable. The Guardians won it in 2024 despite having the ninth-best odds.
The Nationals jumped three teams to win it in 2025. So don’t count out Baltimore just yet.
The draft lottery was introduced in 2022 as part of the league’s new Collective Bargaining Agreement. The Orioles have held the No. 1 overall pick three times before: 1989 (Ben McDonald), 2019 (Adley Rutschman), and 2022 (Jackson Holliday).
In addition to the lottery pick, the Orioles will also have the fifth selection in the Competitive Balance A round - a slot that falls between the first-round comp pick and the second round. These picks can be traded, so don’t be surprised if Baltimore uses it as a chip in future roster moves.
O’s Add Lefty Andrew Magno on Minor League Deal
The Orioles also made a quieter move official, signing left-handed reliever Andrew Magno to a minor league contract. The deal is expected to include an invitation to spring training.
Magno, 27, has spent his entire pro career in the Tigers’ system after being drafted in the 15th round out of Ohio State in 2019. He had a strong showing at Double-A Erie this past season, going 8-1 with a 2.31 ERA and a 1.131 WHIP over 42 games (one start). He averaged 10.7 strikeouts per nine innings and gave up just 0.4 home runs per nine - though his 5.4 walks per nine is something to monitor.
His time at Triple-A Toledo was more uneven. In 2024, he posted a 6.62 ERA and 1.828 WHIP over 50 1/3 innings. Still, the Orioles see enough upside to bring him in for a closer look this spring.
Top 10 Orioles Prospects: Basallo Leads the Pack
Baseball America has updated its Top 10 Orioles prospects list, and it’s no surprise who’s at the top: catcher Samuel Basallo. The 20-year-old has been turning heads with his bat and is widely viewed as one of the most exciting young hitters in the minors.
Here’s how the rest of the list shakes out:
- Samuel Basallo, C
- Dylan Beavers, OF
- Trey Gibson, RHP
- Nate George, OF
- Luis De Leon, LHP
- Ike Irish, OF/C
- Esteban Mejia, RHP
- Michael Forret, RHP
- Enrique Bradfield Jr., OF
- Wehiwa Aloy, SS
MLB Pipeline’s list starts similarly - Basallo at No. 1 - but orders the rest a bit differently, with Irish, Bradfield, and Aloy rounding out the top five.
Baseball America also took a swing at projecting the Orioles’ 2029 lineup. It’s a fun, speculative exercise - and, of course, heavy on guesswork. But here’s what they envision:
- C: Adley Rutschman
- 1B: Coby Mayo
- 2B: Jackson Holliday
- 3B: Jordan Westburg
- SS: Gunnar Henderson
- LF: Dylan Beavers
- CF: Enrique Bradfield Jr.
- RF: Colton Cowser
- DH: Samuel Basallo
- SPs: Kyle Bradish, Trevor Rogers, Tyler Wells, Trey Gibson, Luis De Leon
- CL: Félix Bautista
Again, it’s all hypothetical - trades, injuries, signings, and development curves will shape the real roster. But it’s a snapshot of the system’s depth and potential.
Odds and Ends: Expansion, Salary Caps, and PTBNLs
A few fan-submitted questions brought up some intriguing topics.
**Realignment? ** It’s a real possibility - but only if and when MLB expands to 32 teams.
That would likely trigger a shift to four divisions and a shorter schedule (possibly 156 games), with more structured off-days. The Orioles could find themselves grouped with teams like the Nationals, Braves, Phillies, and Rays in a realigned East.
**Salary Cap? ** If the Dodgers win five straight World Series, maybe - just maybe - the league starts to reconsider.
But don’t hold your breath. A salary cap in MLB still feels like a long shot.
**Big Free Agent Splash? ** With Helsley in the fold, the Orioles have already made a notable move.
But if they’re looking to dream big? A frontline starter like Framber Valdez would be a game-changer.
That’s more realistic than, say, a $400 million megadeal for Kyle Tucker - but still a bold swing.
Any players to be named later? Nothing major on the radar, though the Alex Jackson trade from the Yankees did include a PTBNL and cash. Sometimes those deals quietly resolve behind the scenes.
Framber Valdez Scouting Credit? Mike Elias, who was the Astros’ scouting director when Valdez signed in 2015, would certainly be familiar with his profile - including those elite groundball rates and 83 quality starts over the last four seasons. (For the record, Logan Webb leads with 85.)
The Orioles are staying active this offseason - from bullpen upgrades to prospect development to draft positioning. And with the Winter Meetings just around the corner, don’t be surprised if more moves are on the horizon.