Division rivals get a bullpen arm the Blue Jays have long coveted

The Toronto Blue Jays are doing all the right things after a stirring season that left them on the doorstep of a World Series title. They are signing free agents and approaching the winter with a mindset that they won't be bridesmaids anymore.

Having said that, the Blue Jays don't exist in a vacuum by themselves. They compete in a division and league with multiple clubs trying to do the same thing as them. One of their rivals has made a few sneaky additions that could pester the Blue Jays in the coming years.

Division rivals get a bullpen arm the Blue Jays have long coveted

The Baltimore Orioles are potentially a sleeping giant in the AL East next season. They have significantly raised their payroll and their recent postseason appearances should lead to further roster additions. Exactly one year after their pitching staff buckled under the weight of injuries and under-performance, they are now bringing in one of the top free agent relief arms.

Closer Ryan Helsley and the Baltimore Orioles are in agreement on a two-year contract with an opt-out after the first season, pending physical, sources tell ESPN. Helsley, who fielded interest from teams to convert to a starter, will be the ninth-inning option for Baltimore.

Ryan Helsley is one of those pitchers who pitched so poorly at the end of 2025 that it makes you think he is a bad pitcher. The Blue Jays certainly had their eyes on this guy and are known to be casting a wide net in search of bullpen upgrades.

On the contrary, the two-time All-Star is actually one of the better relievers in baseball over the past few years who simply had a bad few weeks. Helsley, 31, pitched to a 7.20 ERA in 20 innings pitched for the New York Mets following a trade deadline swap with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Since the start of the 2022 season, Helsley has pitched to a 2.49 ERA in 223.2 innings (his bad numbers with the Mets included). That includes a 2.80 FIP, 1.10 WHIP and 288 strikeouts along with a 165 ERA+. It's dominant stuff and the native of Oklahoma could have been tipping his pitches during his stint in Queens.

Helsley will fit nicely into an Orioles bullpen that will be without the services of Felix Bautista after his injury. The Blue Jays have work to do on a bullpen that mostly finished in the middle of the pack in a number of categories. Edwin Diaz now stands as the top free agent target after he posted a 1.63 ERA, 28 saves and 98 strikeouts in 66.1 innings pitched this season.

As for Diaz, the Blue Jays will be facing stiff competition for his services. One has to believe that the Dodgers don't plan on having Roki Sasaki as their primary closer next season. The Tanner Scott signing last winter did not pay dividends for the Dodgers, who placed him on the injured list before the World Series.

Diaz will cost the Blue Jays a draft pick since he is attached to the qualifying offer. Diaz can provide massive cover for a Blue Jays team that is still keeping their options open with the closing situation.

The Blue Jays are trying to attack multiple holes on a roster that almost won the World Series. The Orioles were known to be sniffing around the starting pitching market, but they have now stolen away Helsley from Toronto. Now the Blue Jays could become very aggressive in offering Diaz either a lengthier contract or a higher average annual value.