Chicago eyes former Cardinals standout reliever Ryan Helsley, a potential high-impact signing despite 2025 struggles.
After signing veteran reliever Phil Maton to a two-year, $14.5 million contract last week, it appears the Cubs aren’t done showing interest in top bullpen arms.
According to Patrick Mooney of The Athletic, the Cubs are one of the teams that are currently showing interest in reliever Ryan Helsley. Although there have been some reports that teams could be willing to take a gamble on Helsley as a starter, it doesn’t seem that the right-hander is necessarily looking for a starter role.
It’s somewhat interesting that the Cubs are showing interest in Helsley, given what he could command in free agency. He is one of the better bullpen arms available on the open market this winter. Spotrac lists his market value at three years, $40.9 million.
But after an abysmal second half, Helsley could be more inclined to sign a one-year, prove-it deal in the offseason. The former Trevor Hoffman Reliever of the Year winner allowed 16 runs across 20 innings pitched (7.20 ERA) with the New York Mets.
Therefore, this could be a scenario where the Cubs sign him to a one-year deal. Helsley would prove his value on that one-year contract, and Chicago would get a pitcher who has had major success on the mound in recent seasons.
The Cubs are very familiar with Helsley from his time with the St. Louis Cardinals. He pitched for the Cardinals from 2019 to 2025 before he was traded at the deadline to the Mets. In his time with St. Louis, the 31-year-old had a 2.67 ERA and 105 saves in 275 appearances.
The North Siders are also one of the few teams that the hard-throwing right-hander has faced over 25 times in his career. So, the Cubs know Helsley very well.
Seeing the Cubs at least interested in Helsley is a great sign that this offseason could be different. They already signed a reliever (Maton) to a multi-year deal and appear to be in the market for another veteran at the position.
While Helsley is coming off a down year (4.50 ERA across 56 innings), we shouldn’t ignore what he has done in the seasons before. He finished with a 1.25 ERA and 19 saves in 2022, had a 2.45 ERA and 14 saves in 2023, and then ended with a 2.04 ERA and a league-leading 49 saves in 2024.
The walks can be a problem for him at times, but his elite strikeout rate and elite whiff rate can’t be overlooked. Helsley has finished with a strikeout rate over 29% in three of the past four Major League seasons.
With the Cubs already locking down one high strikeout/high whiff rate pitcher in Maton this offseason, Helsley would be another big-time get for the bullpen.