It seems Ryan HelsleyThe unforgettable ending with the Dishes doesn’t hurt him in free agency.
Helsley is attracting interest from around 15 teams, according to a recent report from The Athletic’s Katie Woo.
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The right-hander, of course, has been one of the best defenders in baseball over the past few seasons, but he struggled mightily down the stretch after being acquired from the Cardinals in a deadline deal.
He posted a lousy 7.20 ERA over 22 appearances while dealing with swing issues.
βIt was the hardest thing I’ve ever been through as a pitcher in the big leagues,β Helsley told Woo.
Now that things are settled, Helsley is confident he can return to his dominant form wherever he lands.
He could also do so in a new role, as according to numerous reports, some teams have long moved closer to a possible transition to the starting rotation.
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While Helsley expects a bit of a learning curve along the way, as Mets fans have seen at times with Holmes Clay last season, it was a move he told Woo he would consider if the opportunity presented itself.
βI still have a lot to give and I can still improve,β he said. βI showed what I can do as a closer: It’s a fun time to be in the game, those are the three most important outs, but I still think I’m capable of starting.β
The Tigers are one of the teams considering Helsley as a starter.
St. Louis and the division-rival Cubs also checked out the powerful right-hander.
