Ryne Stanek Fantasy Stats

St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Ryne Stanek appears to be the team's preferred closer early in the 2026 season, as he came into the game in save opportunities in each of his first two appearances of the season. Stanek converted the save in his first chance and blew the save in his second, so he may not have an ironclad hold on the ninth-inning role. However, St. Louis does not have an obvious alternative on its roster between high-leverage arms Riley O'Brien, JoJo Romero, and Matt Svanson. The 33-year-old Stanek had recorded 14 saves across 458 1/3 career big-league innings entering 2026. He owns a 27.1% career strikeout rate, but has also walked 11.9% of the batters he's faced in his career and pitched to a 5.30 ERA with a 1.57 WHIP across 56 innings for the New York Mets in 2025. Still, Stanek is worth picking up off the waiver wire as an early-season saves candidate in most fantasy formats.

St. Louis Cardinals right-handed reliever Ryne Stanek emerged with the team's first save chance in the 9-7 Opening Day win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday and delivered. The 34-year-old veteran made it interesting, though, walking three and striking out one in the one-inning outing for his first save of 2026. Manager Oliver Marmol did not name a primary closer going into the regular season and expects the situation to "solve itself." In addition to Stanek, Riley O'Brien, JoJo Romero, and Matt Svanson could all be involved in a closer committee early in the season. O'Brien pitched the eighth inning and picked up the win for St. Louis, allowing a hit and striking out two in 1 1/3 innings. O'Brien will probably end up getting most of the save chances for the Red Birds over the course of the season, as Stanek has always been more suited for a setup role, and he has only 15 career saves as he heads into his 10th major-league season.

Free-agent right-handed reliever Ryne Stanek and the St. Louis Cardinals agreed on an undisclosed major-league contract on Friday, sources familiar with the deal told Robert Murray of FanSided.com. It's a worthwhile low-risk investment for a Cardinals team looking to rebuild its bullpen. The 34-year-old Stanek struggled in 2025 with the New York Mets, posting a bloated 5.30 ERA (4.40 FIP), 1.57 WHIP, three saves, 58 strikeouts, and 32 walks in 56 innings out of the bullpen. The nine-year veteran only has 14 career saves in 458 1/3 career innings, so he probably won't be a closing option to begin the year, especially because of his struggles last year with the Mets. However, St. Louis' closing situation is still up for grabs among Riley O'Brien and JoJo Romero, so Stanek could be involved if he bounces back and proves himself in his new digs. At the very least, Stanek could be worth a league in deeper holds leagues.

Free agent relief pitcher Ryne Stanek is drawing interest from several clubs on the open market, according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. Feinsand noted that much of the interest is coming from the National League Central. Last summer, Stanek spent his entire season with the Mets and logged 56 innings to the tune of a 5.30 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. He struck out 58 hitters but showed weak command, posting a high 12.5% walk rate. He also allowed hard contact at a high 43.6% rate, which placed him in the 23rd percentile among qualified pitchers. If the 34-year-old were to find a suitor, managers should expect to open the season in a middle relief role. However, he could eventually earn an opportunity in the later innings, as he tallied 11 holds and three saves with the Mets last season.

New York Mets relief pitcher Ryne Stanek earned his first save of the season in the Mets' 2-0 win over the Marlins on Monday night. The Mets have won five straight games to improve to 7-3 on the season, but regular closer Edwin Diaz pitched in both Saturday and Sunday's one-run victories. To avoid going to him for a third straight game, manager Carlos Mendoza called on Stanek for the ninth inning. The 33-year-old righty had no issues, recording three straight outs, including a strikeout of Eric Wagaman. So far this season, Stanek has allowed one hit and two walks while facing 10 batters over 2 1/3 innings. He will return to his role as a setup man for Diaz, but it looks like he's next in line for saves when Diaz is unavailable.

New York Mets relief pitcher Ryne Stanek is viewed as a setup man. Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reported that Stanek is viewed as the right-handed setup man while A.J. Minter is viewed as the left-handed setup pitcher. Edwin Diaz is expected to see the vast majority of save opportunities. Last season, Stanek spent time with the Seattle Mariners and Mets. Across 55 1/3 innings, the 33-year-old posted a 4.88 ERA with a 1.32 WHIP. He tallied an impressive 67 punchouts but held a poor 10.2 percent walk rate. Across this stint, he tallied 18 holds. However, during his 16 1/3 innings in Queens, Stanek posted a high 6.06 ERA with a 1.29 WHIP. Fantasy managers in holds leagues should monitor his status during spring training as he could be a viable target in these leagues, as he would likely enter the game in the eighth innings when facing right-handed hitters.

Free-agent right-handed reliever Ryne Stanek re-signed with the New York Mets on Wednesday on a one-year, $4.5 million deal, according to a source. Stanek can make another $500,000 in 2025 in incentives. The 33-year-old veteran reliever began the 2024 season pitching out of the Seattle Mariners' bullpen before being traded to the Mets at last year's deadline. He held a rough 6.06 ERA (4.39 FIP) and 1.29 WHIP with 23 strikeouts and eight walks in 16 1/3 relief innings in 17 regular-season outings for the Mets after the trade, but he turned things around in the postseason and gave up three earned runs with eight strikeouts and two holds in eight innings. Overall in 2024, he had a 4.88 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 67 K's and seven saves in 55 1/3 innings with the M's and Mets. Expect him to operate once again in a high-leverage, middle-relief role as a setup man in front of closer Edwin Diaz in 2025.

According to Mark Bowman of MLB.com, the Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs are showing interest in relief pitcher Ryne Stanek. Last season, Stanek opened the campaign with the Seattle Mariners and finished the season with the New York Mets. Across 55 1/3 innings, Stanek posted a 4.88 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. He tallied 67 punchouts and generated an impressive 33.2% whiff rate. However, he struggled with his command as he held a hefty 10.4% walk rate. He also generated a solid 3.44 xERA and a .205 xBA, which suggests that the 34-year-old could be in store for some positive regression during the 2025 campaign. If Stanek were to sign with either team, he would likely see time as a high-leverage option out of the bullpen. He could contend for save opportunities with the Cubs but not with Atlanta, as Raisel Iglesias is the clear ninth-inning option.

After acquiring right-handed reliever Yimi Garcia from the Toronto Blue Jays earlier on Friday, the Seattle Mariners traded right-handed reliever Ryne Stanek to the New York Mets on Friday in exchange for minor-league outfielder Rhylan Thomas, according to a league source. Thomas was listed by MLB Pipeline as New York's No. 30 prospect. The 33-year-old Stanek heads to the Big Apple after struggling of late, and the veteran reliever now holds a 4.38 ERA (4.02 FIP), a 1.33 WHIP, a career-high seven saves and a 44:17 K:BB in 39 innings over 46 appearances out of Seattle's bullpen this year. Since June 30, Stanek has a 9.45 ERA, six walks, eight K's, three holds and two blown saves in 6 2/3 innings pitched. In New York, he'll work alongside Phil Maton as a late-inning setup man in front of closer Edwin Diaz.

Seattle Mariners right-hander Ryne Stanek (back) issued a four-pitch walk to the first batter he faced in his outing in Sunday's series finale against the division-rival Los Angeles Angels and came up grimacing. After talking to the trainer and manager Scott Servais, Stanek left the game and was replaced by Austin Voth. After the game, Servais said Stanek was dealing with back spasms but didn't provide further information on tests or a timeline. The good news for the M's and Stanek is that he'll now have four days of rest during this week's All-Star break, so perhaps he'll avoid a trip to the injured list and could be available out of Seattle's bullpen for Friday's series opener against the division-rival Houston Astros. The 32-year-old veteran reliever already has a career-high seven saves in 2024 in his first year with the Mariners to go along with a 6-2 record, 3.79 ERA and 1.24 WHIP with 42 K's and 14 walks in 38 innings pitched.