The New York Mets have reliever Ryan Helsley entering free agency this winter, and a fresh contract projection sees him earning a substantial amount over the course of one year.
The Mets traded for Helsley at the MLB deadline to bolster their postseason push, but he ultimately failed to help the team and became a burden for the bullpen.
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His 22 games with the Mets are valued at -0.9 bWAR, alongside a 7.20 ERA in 20 innings pitched.
With the St. Louis Cardinals, he made two All-Star teams over seven seasons. His stuff was elite for years, though his strikeout rate has lowered each season, while his command tends to be all over the place.
At the age of 31, the righty is entering unrestricted free agency after coming off his gradual decline. Due to his age and recent inconsistencies, Helsley is unlikely to secure the long-term money he desires, but a potential one-year, high-salary deal could be on the cards.
Tim Britton of The Athletic projects Helsley to get a one-year, $16 million deal in free agency.
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The Mets could re-sign Helsley and give him another go in their bullpen, but other contenders could view him as a low-risk, high-reward investment.
Seemingly, the reliever is hoping for a high-leverage relief spot.
“Hopefully they see me as a backend guy,” Helsley said, per Will Sammon of The Athletic.
“I feel like I’ve shown I can do that in my career over the last four seasons. I think the last month or so that I’ve struggled here, a lot of things can be attributed to it. And even the game’s greatest players go through it.
“In free agency, teams are more willing to pay you on ‘stuff.’ There are more things teams can quantify nowadays than ERA. Teams can dig deep and see what they like about guys. There are 30 teams out there, and I’ll be willing to listen to all of them.”
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