The Cardinals signed reliever Ryne Stanek on Friday, adding a veteran arm to their bullpen as they continue reshaping the roster after trading Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras earlier this offseason.
According to Robert Murray of FanSided, the Cardinals reached an agreement with the right-hander, who’s actually a St. Louis native coming home.
It’s been a pretty quiet winter for the Cardinals beyond those early trades. They re-signed backup catcher Yohel Pozo after his solid 2025 campaign and added starter Dustin May to fill a rotation spot. That’s about it for moves.
Stanek brings nine years of big league experience with a 21-23 record and 3.85 ERA. He’s got swing-and-miss stuff – his 10.4 K/9 shows that – but walks have been an issue throughout his career (4.6 BB/9).
His best year came in 2022 with Houston when everything clicked. Stanek posted a career-high 2.1 WAR while going 2-1 with a 1.15 ERA across 54 innings. The Astros won the World Series that year, and he was a key piece.
Last season was a different story. Stanek’s 5.30 ERA was his worst since his 2017 rookie campaign.
Still, he makes sense for a Cardinals bullpen that needs depth. His role could grow if they end up trading JoJo Romero, who’s drawing plenty of interest as a lefty reliever.
Here’s the thing about Stanek – even if he doesn’t work out long-term, he’s got value. Contenders love playoff-tested arms, and his postseason resume is solid: 4-0 record with a 2.89 ERA in 30 appearances, including that World Series ring.
The Cardinals could use him as a bridge piece early in the season, then flip him for a prospect if a contender comes calling at the deadline. It’s not a bad strategy for a team that seems to be retooling on the fly.
