Reports: Cardinals make free agent deal with late-inning reliever
In their search throughout the winter for a veteran reliever to provide stability at the back end of the bullpen, the St. Louis Cardinals made a move Friday evening, reportedly agreeing to a free-agent contract with right-hander Ryne Stanek, according to multiple media reports.
The deal has not been confirmed by the team and is pending a physical.
Stanek, 34, is a veteran of nine major league seasons who battled through a high walk rate to post a 5.30 ERA in 56 relief innings for the New York Mets in 2025. His calling card has long been his high velocity, and his average fastball registered 98.5 mph last season, good for the league’s 96th percentile.
Stanek’s connections to both the Cardinals and the region run deep. He was born in St. Louis but raised in suburban Kansas City, ultimately attending the University of Arkansas. He was drafted from there in the first round by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2013; those Rays were led on the player development side by current Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom.
By agreeing to a deal to join the Cardinals’ bullpen, Stanek immediately projects to assume a high-leverage role alongside returning reliever Matt Svanson. The two are expected to see the majority of setup opportunities from the right side, with Riley O’Brien likely to resume his role in the ninth inning. JoJo Romero is currently in line as the primary left-handed setup reliever, though he is likely to be traded before the season begins.
The signing marks the third consecutive offseason in which the Cardinals have sought a veteran right-hander for bullpen stability, having traded for Andrew Kittredge before 2024 and signed Phil Maton as a free agent before 2025. Both Kittredge and Maton enjoyed some of the best seasons of their careers in St. Louis and signed lucrative free-agent deals upon their departure.
Stanek now figures to have an opportunity to do the same, while providing veteran presence and stability in what would otherwise be a young and inexperienced bullpen. He joins Dustin May as the Cardinals’ veteran free-agent pitching additions this winter, along with younger trade acquisitions Hunter Dobbins and Richard Fitts.
As the Cardinals work to rebuild their roster, a reliable veteran presence for the pitching staff became one of their greatest needs. With the addition of Stanek, they can now focus on adding additional rotation depth and a right-handed position player who can provide power and handle the corner positions.
They continue to seek trades for Romero, Nolan Arenado and Brendan Donovan. Reporting Friday confirmed that the Arizona Diamondbacks had removed second baseman Ketel Marte from the trade market, perhaps signaling progress that could impact Donovan’s market with a little over a month remaining before spring training.
