Cubs “Showing Interest” in Free Agent Closer Ryan Helsley ...Middle East

One day after the Cubs signed Phil Maton to the franchise’s most significant free agent deal for a reliever since Craig Kimbrel, we were able to confirm that they would still be in the market for impact free-agent relievers. Pete Fairbanks is a name we’ve heard and discussed. Brad Keller could always make his way back to Chicago. And even Devin Williams, with his Craig Counsell connection, is an option, I’m told. But there’s another former NL Central closer, Ryan Helsley, reportedly on the Cubs’ radar, and he’s another exciting target to consider.

Ryan Helsey is on the Cubs’ Radar

Over at The Athletic, Katie Woo reports that upwards of 15 teams have expressed interest in the 31-year-old free agent closer Ryan Helsley, at least one of which, the Tigers, is viewing him as a starting pitcher. Still others are focused on keeping him where he’s been his best, in the bullpen, either as a set-up man or as a straight-forward closer.

And given his experience and track record (before his trade to the Mets…), why not?

Saves Leaderboard 2022-2025:

Shrink that to just the last two seasons, and Helsley’s 70 saves rank third, behind only Clase (70) and Suarez (76). Perhaps not literally the most dominant closer, but one of the most successful and experienced in the role.

In any case, one of those 15 teams interested in Ryan Helsley is reportedly the Chicago Cubs.

In an article that was otherwise about revisiting the Kyle Tucker trade one year later, Patrick Mooney (The Athletic) reports in no uncertain terms: “The Cubs are also among the teams showing interest in free agent Ryan Helsley, according to a league source.”

So there you go, he is officially on the board as a Cubs free agent relief target, right alongside (at least) Pete Fairbanks. It seems likely, to me, that the Cubs are keeping all options (south of Edwin Diaz and Robert Suarez) on the table, so maybe this is a little more confirmation than anything close. But it’s a continued good sign to see the Cubs’ evolved approach to bullpen building. In other words, they might be able to build a real monster if they can keep finding success on the margins (Brad Keller, Drew Pomeranz, Caleb Thielbar) WHILE ALSO adding someone more experienced and consistent (Phil Maton is already on board, and, again, it looks like they’re looking for one more established arm.

It’s unclear how they view Daniel Palencia in all of this, though his presence can be impactful no matter when he pitches (we saw that throughout the playoffs).

But Ryan Helsley has some specific quirks we need to sort through, because the end of his season with the Mets really was a disaster.

What Happened to Ryan Helsley Down the Stretch?

Before his trade to the Mets at the 2025 MLB Trade Deadline, Ryan Helsley boasted an impressive 2.67 ERA (3.17 FIP) over 299.2 innings in MLB. And those results were supported by an excellent 29.1% career strikeout rate, .199 average against, and solid batted ball metrics: 89.7 MPH EV, 6.4 barrel%, and 39.7 hard%.

But in 20.0 innings for the Mets down the stretch, Helsley earned a … eh hem … 7.20 ERA (5.19 FIP), as his walk rate rose (11.6%), his strikeout rate fell (23.2%), and opposing batters started squaring him up a little more often: 8.1 barrel%. None of those numbers is truly disastrous, but it very clearly didn’t work out for the Mets, who watched Helsley blow 4 saves as their playoff hopes evaporated.

“It was the hardest thing I’ve gone through as a pitcher in the big leagues,” Helsley said about being removed from the set-up role (and all high-leverage opportunities entirely).

But there’s good news, sorta: He was tipping his pitches.

As the Mets were trying to diagnose his issues, noting that he felt good and his velocity/stuff all still rated out incredibly well, they discovered the problem:

Helsley’s tell came from his hand position as he was becoming set. Throughout his career, Helsley would come set with his hands high. The Mets suggested changing his positioning and keeping his hands closer to his chest. But making an in-season adjustment — especially in the big leagues — does not always come easy, especially when the results aren’t following.

Identifying and acknowledging that you have a tell is the first step, but that doesn’t automatically mean it’s an easy fix. If adjustments to hide the tip impact his mechanics or comfort-level, he might still struggle. And, indeed, Woo has some additional notes on how he became a little too predictable (even without the tell) in certain counts. But with a full offseason to adjust his style, and even contemplate adding additional weapons to his arsenal, Ryan Helsley figures to be back on top in 2026.

And that’s why so many teams, including the Cubs, are all over him.

Ryan Helsley’s Fit with the Cubs

This really speaks for itself, as the “right” version of Ryan Helsley would undoubtedly be the best reliever in the Cubs’ bullpen. But the one thing I did want to point out after the Phil Maton signing, and all the handwringing about his lower velocity, is that Ryan Helsley throws hard.

Since the start of the 2022 season, Helsley has averaged 99.5 MPH on his fastball and 89.0 MPH on his slider (his two primary pitches). That gives him the fifth-highest average fastball velocity of any pitcher in baseball over that stretch and the 12th-hardest slider.

Velocity isn’t everything, but the Cubs have lagged in that department in recent years. And in a modern bullpen, you do want your back-end guys able to dial it up as needed. At an absolute minimum, it increases the margin for error (missing middle-middle at 92 is very different than doing the same at 99).

At this point in the season, without knowing exactly what the Cubs like about Ryan Helsley, Pete Fairbanks, Devin Williams, or whoever else, it’s difficult to rank these guys in terms of likelihood to join the Cubs or even overall attractiveness. They’re all established closers who’ve succeeded in the past, but maybe come with a red flag or two (Fairbanks has that weird cold-weather issue, Helsley was tipping pitches, Williams did not have a great 2025, etc.).

But what can I say, they’re relievers. This is how it goes. And for now, I’m content knowing the Cubs remain steadfastly involved in a higher tier of free agent reliever than we’ve seen them pursue in years. That’s a good enough start.

According to Katie Woo, “multiple league sources said they expect the reliever market to pick up around the start of MLB’s Winter Meetings, which begin Dec. 8 in Orlando, Fla.” So get ready, I think the Cubs could be active.

Hence then, the article about cubs showing interest in free agent closer ryan helsley was published today ( Tuesday 25/11/2025 - 08:26 PM ) and is available on Bleacher Nation ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.

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