While Edwin Díaz has become the popular dream target this season, what about the other closer the Mets acquired in 2025 – Ryan Helsley?
Yes, his stint with the Mets was disastrous, with his ERA rising to 7.20 in 22 appearances. But before that, Helsley was considered one of the best closers in baseball.
In 2024, he led the league with 49 saves and had maintained an ERA under 3.00 every season since 2022. Given how badly the Blue Jays want to strengthen the back end of their bullpen, acquiring Helsley could be a smart buy-low opportunity – or a big gamble if he can’t rediscover his St. Louis form.
Statistics 2025
Split between the Cardinals and Mets, Helsley played in 58 games and posted a 4.50 ERA. He recorded 21 saves, a reduced number largely because the Mets placed him in a setup role behind Edwin Díaz. His performance changed dramatically after the trade: a 3.27 ERA in the first half of the season compared to a 6.26 ERA after joining New York. In July alone – before the trade – he posted a 1.29 ERA with seven strikeouts in seven innings.
Helsley is without a doubt one of the hardest throwers in baseball, averaging at least 90 miles per hour and ranking in the 99th percentile. That puts him in elite company with flamethrowers like Jhoan Duran, Mason Miller and Jacob Misiorowski. He struggled with the pitch this season, producing a fastball run value of -15 while opponents hit it with a .422 average and a .316 xBA.
The Jays would be in a much different position if they added someone like Ryan Helsley or Jhoan Duran to this bullpen at the trade deadline. Here are some hilites from those two pitchers from last night to make that argument—–
His slider was the legitimate weapon, generating a 41.6% whiff rate in 2025 and limiting hitters to a .140 average this season. That pitch kept batters off balance and produced weak contact, with an exit velocity of 85.3 MPH and a putaway percentage of 24.9%. He mixes in the occasional curveball and cutter, but he’s primarily a two-pitch reliever.
His struggles in 2025 largely stemmed from his fastball being knocked over and some free pass concerns (9.9%) – issues that can dramatically impact two-pitch closers.
Is Helsley on the Blue Jays in 2026?
As mentioned above, Helsley is a complicated pitcher to evaluate. On the one hand, a hard-throwing right-hander with elite speed and a swing-and-miss slider is the exact profile many teams desire in high-leverage situations.
On the other hand, the Blue Jays already have Louis Varland, who is younger, under team control and highly valued internally until 2031. They also have Yimi García, another high-leverage option who will compete for late-inning duties in spring training, and Hoffman, who fits a very similar profile.
Helsley made $8.2 million in the final year of his contract with St. Louis. While that may not seem like much, the reliever market is trending upward: Raisel Iglesias just secured $16 million for 2026 from the Braves. Current projections expect Helsley to bring in nearly $13 million per season, even after a rough second half in Queens.
The question is simple: Is that a gamble the Blue Jays are willing to take if they plan to return to the promised land?
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