One of the lingering questions after the latest round of roster shuffling is how the Orioles will use relievers Ryan Helsley and Félix Bautista. Whether they’re going to implement a closer tag-team or view one as a primary set-up man who can fall back on his ninth-inning experience to assist in the other role.

Helsley is being paid $14 million again after exercising his option. He led the majors in saves with 49 in 53 chances in 2024 to set the Cardinals’ franchise record. If he’s fully recovered from right elbow injuries that limited him to 17 appearances with the Orioles, he’d seem to profile as more than just a set-up guy.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

Bautista was the top reliever in baseball in 2023 and has the award to prove it. But he underwent Tommy John surgery in October, missing the entire 2024 season, and was shut down in August 2025 with a shoulder injury that required repair work on his labrum and rotator cuff.

The latest return was pushed back until September, when he allowed three runs and four hits in 1 2/3 innings in two games. MLBTradeRumors.com projects his salary at $2.4 million. He hasn’t earned a save since July 20, 2025 in St. Petersburg, Fla.

It’s probably like riding a bike. But the Orioles could use Bautista similar to Armando Benitez in 1997 while Randy Myers was notching 45 saves in 46 opportunities.

The unique circumstance revolves around health. Helsley and Bautista should be handled with extra early care, which could divvy up the closing responsibilities based on availability.

Elias spoke at the GM Meetings about the advantages of the experience and “firepower” that they bring to the bullpen. He also referenced the “guarded planning” around them. But most important, he appeared to give Helsley first dibs due to the “recency on his side.”

Spring training will be the time to firm up plans with manager Craig Albernaz and the pitching department. The possibility of additional moves also could factor into it. The Orioles can’t assume that anyone on the club makes it through an entire season without an injury, whether or not it requires a stint on the IL.

*The 40-man roster is holding 37 players and the Orioles probably need more space to add the Rule 5 eligibles.

Final decisions must by made by Tuesday afternoon.

The probability of a lockout isn’t stopping the Orioles from doing business over these next few weeks. They’re operating as if the Rule 5 draft will happen and will abide by the deadline. And they’re going to blow past the two players protected last year.

Reliever Cameron Foster and outfielder Reed Trimble were placed on the 40-man roster, after reliever Anthony Nunez earlier in the month. The club also protected two in 2024 – pitchers Brandon Young and Kade Strowd. They didn’t protect anyone in 2023.

The 2021 Winter Meetings were canceled due to a lockout, which also wiped out the Rule 5 draft, but the Orioles protected Bautista, pitchers Kyle Bradish, DL Hall, Logan Gillaspie and Kevin Smith, and infielder Terrin Vavra.

The batch of eligibles this year also is deep with former first-round draft pick Enrique Bradfield Jr., infielder Aron Estrada and pitchers Michael Forret, Nestor German, Patrick Reilly, Levi Wells, Braxton Bragg and Juaron Watts-Brown. Teams passed on catcher Creed Willems last year but his stock seems to be rising.

Let’s take another look at the 40-man:

Pitchers
Philip Abner
Félix Bautista
Shane Baz
Kyle Bradish
Yennier Cano
Luis De León
Cameron Foster
Rico Garcia
Trey Gibson
Chase Hampton
Ryan Helsley
Yaramil Hiraldo
Alex Hoppe
Anthony Nunez
Cade Povich
Cam Sanders
Josh Walker
Josh White
Grant Wolfram
Brandon Young

Catchers
Samuel Basallo
Zach Morgan
Carlos Narváez

Infielders
Blaze Alexander
Pete Alonso
Christian Encarnacion-Strand
Gunnar Henderson
Jackson Holliday
Jeremiah Jackson
Coby Mayo
Jordan Westburg

Outfielders
Dylan Beavers
Colton Cowser
Christian Franklin
Rece Hinds
Tyler O’Neill
Reed Trimble

Abner, Hampton, White and Morgan were Nov. 2 waiver claims.

*Outfielder Nate George, ranked by MLBPipeline.com as the No. 7 prospect in the system, doesn’t attain Rule 5 status until the 2028 offseason. He was the organization’s Minor League Player of the Year in ’25 and he’s ready to get back into affiliated games.

We already knew this, judging by the batting practice videos from Sarasota that were posted on social media, but further confirmation came from Elias at the GM Meetings. Nothing newsy but still good to hear.

George appeared in only 20 games with High-A Frederick before the Orioles shut him down for undisclosed reasons. He turns 21 years old in June. His progression next season will be one of the more interesting subjects to track, with the possibility that he climbs all the way to Triple-A.