BALTIMORE -- After an injury-plagued 2026 season, Ryan Helsley has decided his best move forward is to stay in Baltimore for another year.
Helsley is opting into his $14 million player option for 2027, a source confirmed on Thursday. The club has not announced the decision.
This doesn't come as much of a surprise, as Helsley wouldn't have been re-entering the free-agent market at the most opportune time. The 32-year-old right-hander recorded a 4.11 ERA with eight saves in 17 games for the O's this past season, spending two stints on the injured list due to right elbow ailments.
Helsley didn't appear in a game after June 27. However, he was close to a return in September before the Orioles decided it was best to shut him down with the club falling out of postseason contention. He is expected to be ready for the beginning of Spring Training 2027.
Signed to a two-year, $28 million deal last Dec. 1 -- a contract that featured an opt-out clause after the first season -- Helsley was brought in to serve as Baltimore's closer in the absence of right-hander Félix Bautista, who missed most of the 2026 campaign while recovering from right shoulder surgery.
Now, the Orioles' bullpen is set to have both Helsley and Bautista, who returned to make two appearances late this past season.
Who will be the closer? That is something Baltimore will have to decide. Bautista has served in the role for the O's for most of his four-year MLB career, but the 31-year-old has had trouble staying healthy.
Bautista has pitched in only 37 big league games over the past three seasons, as he missed all of the 2024 campaign while recovering from Tommy John surgery. But he's been dominant when on the mound, posting a 2.15 ERA with 67 saves over 158 career appearances.
Helsley has been a closer for much of his eight-year MLB career, which has featured previous stints with the Cardinals (2019-25) and Mets ('25). But the righty has experience as a setup man, including after he got dealt to New York at the 2025 Trade Deadline.
For the Orioles, having two experienced closers is a good problem to need to solve. The back end of their bullpen will be stronger with both Bautista and Helsley in the fold, as long as they can stay healthy and pitch to their potential in 2027.