Stunning Move Coming For Former Reliever of the Year Ryan Helsley?

Ryan Helsley won the NL Reliever of the Year Award in 2024, recording a major league best 49 saves with a 2.04 ERA. But after a seven-year career coming out of the bullpen, reports have Helsely being targeted as a starting pitcher in free agency this winter.

The Tigers are among teams looking at Ryan Helsley as a starter.

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It's the resumption of a recent trend around baseball that has seen relievers successfully convert to the rotation, with names like Seth Lugo, Michael King and Clay Holmes making the move.

Helsley, 31, has made 297 appearances in the big leagues, with precisely zero coming as starts. His last start came in the minor leagues in 2019.

But that doesn't seem to faze the Detroit Tigers, who are reportedly trying to woo Helsley as a starter. And according to Ken Rosenthal, Cody Stavenhagen and Katie Woo in The Athletic, they aren't the only ones.

"The Tigers are among the clubs talking to the free-agent right-hander about becoming a starter, according to people familiar with his market".

Free agent RHP Helsley being pursued by several teams as a starter

As the trio duly note, the closer market in free agency this offseason is very deep, with plenty of notable names to choose from. Converting to a starter would open up many more avenues for Helsley, if he's game.

Perhaps the 6'2" right-hander's over-the-top delivery has teams dreaming of finding a facsimile of the Blue Jays' rookie sensation Trey Yesavage. The Toronto starter burst onto the scene in the postseason, throwing some dominant outings with his exceptionally high arm angle that sees him release the ball 7'1" high, flummoxing hitters. Helsley releases it at 6'1". His 62-degree arm angle was 3rd among all RHP.

With Reese Olson is coming off a season-ending shoulder injury, and Jackson Jobe out after Tommy John surgery, the Tigers' rotation consists of Tarik Skubal, Jack Flaherty, Casey Mize and Troy Melton.

Helsley finished last season with a dreadful two months after being traded to the NY Mets from the St. Louis Cardinals and being turned into a set-up man. In 20 innings with the Mets, he was rocked to the tune of a 7.20 ERA and a .933 opponents’ OPS. His career ERA is 2.96.