By Ken Rosenthal, Cody Stavenhagen and Katie Woo
Ryan Helsley, starting pitcher?
The Detroit Tigers are among the clubs talking to the free-agent right-hander about becoming a starter, according to people familiar with his market.
In recent seasons, Seth Lugo, Michael King and Clay Holmes have been among the relievers who have successfully converted to starting. Helsley, 31, hasn’t started since 2019, when he was at Triple A with the St. Louis Cardinals.
As a starter, the seven-year veteran would need to expand his repertoire. Helsley threw more than 90 percent sliders and four-seamers with the Cardinals and New York Mets last season, but added a cutter in the spring and also has a curveball.
The closer market remains deep, even after Raisel Iglesias signed a one-year, $16 million contract with the Atlanta Braves this week. Helsley, who is No. 27 on The Athletic’s free-agent big board, is part of a group that includes Edwin Díaz, Devin Williams, Robert Suarez, Pete Fairbanks, Luke Weaver and Kenley Jansen. Fewer quality starting pitchers are available. If Helsley is willing to start, it would expand his possibilities.
The Tigers’ rotation is led by back-to-back AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal, who is entering his final season before free agency. To this point, the Tigers have given no indication they are willing to trade Skubal, saying privately that they want to win with him. Yet, even with Skubal, they would benefit from the addition of another starter.
Jack Flaherty declined to opt out of his contract and will return on a $20 million option. Casey Mize and Troy Melton are projected to be in the rotation as well. However, Reese Olson is coming off a season-ending shoulder injury, and Jackson Jobe will miss most or all of next season recovering from Tommy John surgery. The Tigers declined a $4 million option on Jose Urquidy and might prefer to keep Keider Montero in the bullpen.
Helsley led the majors with 49 saves in 2024, but regressed last season with the Cardinals and especially after the Mets acquired him for three minor-league pitchers at the trade deadline. He struggled to fix an issue with pitch tipping, and in 20 innings with the Mets, produced a 7.20 ERA and .933 opponents’ OPS, well above his career marks of 2.96 and 6.21.
The Cardinals selected Helsley as a starter out of Northeastern (Ok.) State in the fifth round of the 2015 draft. All but 18 of his 87 appearances in the minors were as a starter. The Cardinals made him a reliever upon promoting him to the majors in April 2019.
—Will Sammon contributed to this story.