With the discourse surrounding the closer position for the Toronto Blue Jays since Game 7 of the World Series, many fans have been wondering who should close games for the club in 2026 if it isn’t Jeff Hoffman.

While Edwin Díaz has become the popular dream target this offseason, what about the other closer the Mets acquired in 2025 — Ryan Helsley?

Yes, his stint with the Mets was disastrous, with his ERA ballooning to 7.20 across 22 appearances. But before that, Helsley was viewed as one of the best closers in baseball.

In 2024, he led the league with 49 saves and had maintained an ERA below 3.00 every season since 2022. Given how much the Blue Jays want to reinforce the back end of their bullpen, acquiring Helsley could be either a smart buy-low opportunity—or a major gamble if he can’t rediscover his St. Louis form.

Split between the Cardinals and Mets, Helsley appeared in 58 games and posted a 4.50 ERA. He recorded 21 saves, a decreased number largely because the Mets moved him into a setup role behind Edwin Díaz. His performance shifted dramatically after the trade: a 3.27 ERA in the first half of the season compared to a 6.26 ERA after joining New York. In July alone—before the trade—he posted a 1.29 ERA with seven strikeouts in seven innings.

Helsley is unquestionably one of the hardest throwers in baseball, averaging at least 99 mph and ranking in the 99th percentile. That places him in elite company with flamethrowers like Jhoan Duran, Mason Miller, and Jacob Misiorowski. He struggled with the pitch this season, producing a -15 fastball run value while opponents teed off on it to the tune of a .422 average and a .316 xBA.

His slider was the legitimate weapon, generating a 41.6% whiff rate in 2025 and limiting hitters to a .140 average this season. That pitch kept hitters off balance and produced weak contact, ranking at an 85.3 MPH exit velocity and working to a 24.9% putaway rate. He’ll occasionally mix in a curveball and a cutter, but he is primarily a two-pitch reliever.

His struggles in 2025 stemmed largely from his fastball getting knocked around and some free pass concerns (9.9%) — issues that can dramatically affect two-pitch closers.

As mentioned above, Helsley is a complicated pitcher to evaluate. On one hand, a hard-throwing right-hander with elite velocity and a swing-and-miss slider is the exact profile many teams covet in high-leverage situations.

On the other hand, the Blue Jays already have Louis Varland, who is younger, under team control through 2031, and highly valued internally. They also have Yimi García, another high-leverage option who will compete for late-inning duties in spring training, and Hoffman, who fits a very similar profile.

Helsley made $8.2 million in the final year of his contract with St. Louis. While that may not seem like much, the reliever market is trending upward — Raisel Iglesias just secured $16 million for 2026 from the Braves. Current projections expect Helsley to command close to $13 million per season, even after a rough second half in Queens.

The question is simple: Is that a gamble the Blue Jays want to take if they intend to get back to the promised land?