As we navigate this Thanksgiving holiday weekend, it’s anticipated that the Major League Baseball scene will remain somewhat quiet for a bit, with the hope that activity starts to ramp up sometime next week. Nonetheless, a significant transaction has occurred alongside some circulating rumors, so let’s gather all the information.
Orioles secure their relief ace
The Orioles were in the market for a premier relief pitcher this offseason, and it seems they’ve found their solution. They’ve reportedly reached an agreement with right-handed pitcher Ryan Helsley on a two-year contract worth $28 million, according to The Athletic. There had been speculation about Helsley potentially transitioning into a starting role next season, but the current report suggests he’s now positioned as the Orioles’ closer.
Helsley, who is 31 years old, distinguished himself as one of baseball’s top closers in 2024 and maintained a productive level in that role with the Cardinals before being traded to the Mets during the past season. However, across 22 appearances for the Mets, his performance resulted in a 7.20 ERA and a 1.80 WHIP. It’s quite plausible that this was merely a short, unlucky spell. In 2024, his stats revealed a 2.04 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP, accompanied by 79 strikeouts over 66 ⅓ innings, and he secured an MLB-leading 49 saves out of 53 opportunities.
Phillies expected to keep Schwarber
The prevailing sentiment is that “[Kyle] Schwarber will continue his career in Philadelphia,” according to MLB.com earlier this week. The report indicates that the Phillies have designated keeping Schwarber and free agent catcher J.T. Realmuto as “priorities,” although, as of this writing, no agreements are imminent.
The 32-year-old designated hitter recorded a batting line of .240/.365/.563 (150 OPS+) along with 56 home runs, 132 RBI, 111 runs scored, and a 4.7 WAR over 162 games played last season. He concluded the season as the runner-up in the NL MVP voting, trailing behind Shohei Ohtani.
Jays still hunting for bullpen help
The Blue Jays successfully acquired free agent starting pitcher Dylan Cease earlier this week and are maintaining contact with All-Star free agent Bo Bichette. They also remain active in pursuing relievers, according to SportsNet, with the intention of adding at least one high-leverage pitcher. The report specifies that the Jays were interested in Phil Maton before he signed with the Cubs and were “monitoring” Raisel Iglesias.
Currently, the defending AL champions are positioned with Jeff Hoffman as their closer, supported by Yimi García, Louis Varland, and Brayden Fisher in setup roles.
