The Baltimore Orioles are considering turning to the trade market to bolster one of their key weaknesses. Ken Rosenthal from The Athletic proposed on “Foul Territory” that the Orioles might pursue St. Louis Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley. Rosenthal mentioned that Helsley, who is currently earning $3.8 million this season (expected to drop below $2 million by the trade deadline), also has another year of club control remaining.
While Rosenthal acknowledged that the Cardinals would need to decide whether to sell at the deadline, he emphasized that the Orioles would be keenly interested in Helsley if he were to become available.
Helsley, aged 29 and an All-Star in 2022, has showcased exceptional performance this season for St. Louis, boasting a 1.50 ERA and a 0.89 WHIP across 18 appearances. He’s currently near the top of the MLB rankings with 11 saves. Considering the Cardinals’ current standing at the bottom of the NL Central with a 15-21 record and a recent significant injury to one of their top hitters, they might indeed become sellers.
Could the Orioles be a perfect fit for Ryan Helsley?@Ken_Rosenthal shares an overview of the whole situation with @scottbraun. pic.twitter.com/hya1YVvoSU
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) May 9, 2024
Meanwhile, the Orioles have Craig Kimbrel as their current closer, but his performance has been inconsistent this season, with a 4.73 ERA and three blown saves. At 35 years old, Kimbrel is a fallback option, especially with Baltimore’s key closer Felix Bautista sidelined for the year due to Tommy John surgery.
Despite their strong overall performance and the best record in the AL at 24-12, the Orioles have been seeking additional pitching assistance, particularly in fortifying the back end of their bullpen.
