Rich Dubroff

Orioles’ Helsley exercises $14 million option for 2027; Rogers, Bassitt, Akin, Kittredge declare free agency

As expected, Orioles reliever Ryan Helsley has exercised his $14 million player option for 2027.

Helsley, who pitched in just 17 games due to two lengthy stays on the injured list with right elbow inflammation, signed a one-year, $14 million contract with the Orioles last December with the 2027 option.

He was 0-4 with a 4.11 ERA and saved eight games in nine opportunities.

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Helsley and Félix Bautista, who returned from rotator cuff and labrum surgery to pitch two games in September, are expected to be the Orioles’ back-end relievers in 2027.

Notes: Left-handed reliever Keegan Akin, right-handed starter Chris Bassitt, right-handed reliever Andrew Kittredge and left-handed starter Trevor Rogers declared free agency.

Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com

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Rich Dubroff

Rich Dubroff grew up in Brooklyn as a fan of New York teams, but after he moved to Baltimore, quickly adopted the Orioles and Colts. After nearly two decades as a freelancer assisting on Orioles coverage for several outlets, principally The Capital in Annapolis and The Carroll County Times, Dubroff began covering the team fulltime in 2011. He spent five years at Comcast SportsNet’s website and for the last two seasons, wrote for PressBoxonline.com, Dubroff lives in Baltimore with his wife of more than 30 years, Susan.

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