One closer is off the market for the Toronto Blue Jays.

On Saturday afternoon, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that the fellow American League East team agreed to a two-year deal with the hard-throwing right-handed pitcher. There is an opt-out after the first season.

Helsley was believed to be an option for the Blue Jays, despite the rough season. The 31-year-old split the 2025 season between the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets, authoring a 4.50 ERA and a 4.14 FIP in 56 innings pitched. Helsley’s strikeout rate was far below his career norms, finishing 2025 with a 25 K%.

This is a deviation from the norm for the flame-throwing righty, as he finished with a 2.04 ERA and 2.41 FIP in 66.1 innings pitched in 2024. His best season was in 2022, finishing the season with a 1.25 ERA and 2.34 FIP in 64.2 innings pitched. Helsley also had a 39.3 K% in 2022.

Adding Helsley not only improves the Orioles’ bullpen in a stacked AL East, but also takes one of the better closing options off the market.

There are still a handful of relievers who can take over the Jays’ closing role, such as Edwin Díaz, Devin Williams, Robert Suárez, and Pete Fairbanks, just to name a few.

The Jays bullpen is still in good shape regardless if they spend big on a free agent reliever. Jeff Hoffman had a strong postseason, the ninth inning home run aside, while Yimi García’s return from injury will be helpful. They have a longman in Eric Lauer, while Louis Varland, Brendon Little, Braydon Fisher, and Yariel Rodríguez are all capable of pitching in high-leverage situations.

Expect transactions to pick up as we get closer to the start of the Winter Meetings on Dec. 7. Even though adding a reliever or two is a need for the Blue Jays, their biggest need is adding a big bat, such as signing Kyle Tucker or re-signing Bo Bichette.

Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.