The St. Louis Cardinals have reached an agreement with veteran relief pitcher Ryne Stanek, according to a report from Robert Murray of FanSided. The move comes after earlier indications from Chris Cotillo of MassLive that the Cardinals were actively exploring options to add a power arm to their bullpen, with Stanek emerging as a clear target. The signing is still pending a physical, after which St. Louis will need to clear a spot on its 40-man roster to make the deal official. Stanek is represented by MVP Sports Group.
A fresh start after turbulence in New York
Stanek’s agreement with St. Louis represents a new chapter following a somewhat rocky stretch with the New York Mets, where his performance fluctuated significantly over the past season and a half. The Mets initially acquired the hard-throwing right-hander from the Seattle Mariners at the 2024 trade deadline, believing his high-octane arsenal could strengthen their bullpen for a postseason push.
Although Stanek struggled statistically down the stretch of the regular season—allowing 11 earned runs across just 16 1/3 innings—his ability to miss bats remained intriguing. More importantly, his postseason showing proved encouraging enough that the Mets elected to retain him. That confidence resulted in a one-year, $4.5 million free-agent contract intended to stabilize their late-inning relief corps.
Unfortunately for both sides, the reunion failed to produce consistent results. At age 34, Stanek endured an uneven campaign marked by flashes of dominance interspersed with prolonged bouts of inefficiency. While he delivered strong run-prevention performances in May and July, those months stood in sharp contrast to the rest of the season, during which opposing hitters frequently capitalized on his lapses in command.
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By season’s end, Stanek logged 56 innings and posted a 5.30 ERA—an uncharacteristically high figure for a pitcher once known as a dependable late-inning option. Even advanced metrics offered only modest optimism, as ERA estimators suggested mild improvement but still reflected overall regression. Both his strikeout rate and walk rate moved in the wrong direction, undercutting his effectiveness.
Declining strikeouts, familiar control issues
Perhaps the most concerning statistical trend for Stanek was the decline in his strikeout percentage. He finished the season with a 22.7% strikeout rate, narrowly the lowest mark of his nine-year Major League career. That represented a significant drop-off from the nearly 28% rate he posted just one year earlier—a level that had previously allowed him to offset persistent command challenges.
Stanek’s reliance on strikeouts has always been essential, as control has never been his defining strength. Throughout his career, he has issued walks to at least 10% of the batters he has faced in all but one season. In 2025, that figure climbed to 12.5%, once again placing pressure on his ability to overpower hitters and escape jams without damage.
When Stanek’s strikeout numbers dip, the margin for error becomes extremely thin. Missed locations tend to turn into hard contact, and elevated pitch counts often prevent him from working deeper into appearances. Those factors combined to produce the uneven results that ultimately led the Mets to move on.
Why the Cardinals are betting on upside
Despite the downturn in results, the Cardinals see Stanek as a worthwhile, low-risk investment—particularly if his contract comes in at a modest cost. St. Louis is effectively wagering that improved health, mechanical refinement, and a change of environment will allow him to rediscover the swing-and-miss profile that once made him a trusted bullpen piece.
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The raw stuff remains undeniable. Stanek averaged an eye-popping 98.5 miles per hour on his fastball last season, a velocity that ranked among the top 15 relievers in Major League Baseball. Few pitchers can match that level of pure arm strength, and velocity alone continues to give him a foundation for success.
Complementing the fastball is a sharp, high-spin slider that grades as a legitimate plus pitch. Stanek also mixes in a splitter and a sweeper, giving him four distinct offerings to keep hitters guessing. While the overall results lagged, his per-pitch whiff rates remained slightly above league average—an encouraging sign that his arsenal still plays at the highest level.
For the Cardinals, the belief is simple: if Stanek can push his strikeout rate back closer to career norms while merely maintaining his current velocity, he could once again become a reliable option in meaningful situations.
A bullpen in transition
St. Louis’s bullpen situation makes this signing particularly logical. The Cardinals enter the season with a noticeable lack of veteran presence in the late innings. Left-hander JoJo Romero had been the only reliever on the roster with even two years of Major League service, underscoring how inexperienced the group currently is.
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Romero himself may not be long for the roster, as there is a strong possibility he could be traded before Opening Day as part of the organization’s broader retooling efforts. With uncertainty looming, the Cardinals were actively searching for an experienced arm capable of handling leverage, stabilizing younger pitchers, and absorbing innings at the back end of games.
Stanek profiles best as a middle-relief option, but given the current state of the bullpen, his role could expand quickly. On a club that is openly navigating a transitional phase, he could find himself pitching in high-leverage spots—and potentially even closing games—if performance dictates. While that scenario would have seemed unlikely earlier in his career, the Cardinals’ current structure makes flexibility a necessity.
Familiarity with the front office
Another factor working in Stanek’s favor is his familiarity with the Cardinals’ leadership. President of baseball operations Chaim Bloom knows Stanek well from his time in the Tampa Bay Rays’ front office. Bloom was part of the organization when the Tampa Bay Rays selected Stanek in the first round of the 2013 MLB Draft, a testament to how highly the pitcher was once regarded.
That longstanding connection likely played a role in St. Louis’s willingness to take a chance. Bloom understands both Stanek’s strengths and limitations, and that institutional knowledge can be invaluable when assessing whether a veteran pitcher has more to give.
A homecoming element
Beyond baseball considerations, the signing carries personal significance for Stanek. He was born in St. Louis and grew up nearby, attending high school in Stilwell, Kansas. Returning to the region represents a homecoming of sorts—one that gives him the opportunity to pitch for his hometown club, even if only temporarily.
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That geographic connection may not directly impact performance, but it adds a meaningful narrative layer to the move. For a veteran navigating the later stages of his career, pitching close to home can provide added motivation and comfort.
A potential midseason trade chip
Given the Cardinals’ current trajectory, there is also a realistic chance that Stanek could become a midseason trade candidate. If he performs well during the first half of the year—regaining strikeouts and delivering reliable outings—contending teams could view him as an appealing bullpen upgrade ahead of the trade deadline.
In that scenario, St. Louis would benefit from converting a low-cost free-agent signing into future assets, aligning with the organization’s longer-term objectives. For now, however, Stanek will be given every opportunity to contribute meaningfully and reestablish his value on the mound.
Final outlook
In the end, this agreement reflects a pragmatic approach by the Cardinals. Stanek is no longer the overpowering force he once was at his peak, but the tools that made him effective have not disappeared. With elite velocity, a deep pitch mix, and extensive Major League experience, he offers upside that is difficult to find at a bargain price.
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For Stanek, the move provides a chance at redemption—a fresh start with a team that understands both his history and his potential. Whether he settles into middle relief, ascends into late-inning responsibility, or becomes a trade chip later in the season, his time in St. Louis figures to be one of the more intriguing bullpen storylines to watch.
At the very least, Ryne Stanek will get the opportunity to pitch meaningful innings for the organization closest to home, aiming to prove that his best days on a Major League mound are not yet behind him.
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