When you strip away the spin, the Baltimore Orioles just paid $28 million for a lottery ticket in the ninth inning — and then handed the player the right to cash out early if it hits.
On paper, Ryan Helsley looks like exactly the kind of arm Baltimore needed after Félix Bautista’s injury left a massive crater at the back of the bullpen. From 2022–24, Helsley was one of the most dominant relievers in baseball, running an ERA under 2.00 and blowing hitters away with triple-digit heat and a wipeout slider. That version of Helsley absolutely looks like a $14 million-a-year closer.