Cardinals Sign Free-Agent Reliever Ryne Stanek

ST. LOUIS, MO., January 13, 2026 – The St. Louis Cardinals announced today that they have signed free-agent right-handed reliever Ryne Stanek to a one-year deal for 2026 that also includes a club option for 2027. Financial terms were not disclosed.

“Ryne brings competitiveness, character, and tremendous experience to our bullpen, along with the high-end stuff he has featured throughout his career,” said Cardinals President of Baseball Operations Chaim Bloom. “We’re happy that he’s chosen to join the Cardinals and look forward to what he will contribute in every aspect.”

Stanek’s big league career has included stints with Tampa Bay (2017-19), Miami (2019-20), Houston (2021-23), Seattle (2024) and the New York Mets (2024-25). He has posted a 21-23 career mark with a 3.85 ERA and 14 saves with 531 strikeouts in 458.1 IP. His 466 career games pitched since debuting in 2017 rank 15^th among all Major League pitchers and includes seven seasons of 50+ games pitched.

The 34-year-old Stanek, appeared in 65 games for the New York Mets last season where he compiled a 4-6 mark with 3 saves, 11 holds and a 5.30 ERA. The 6-4, 226-pound righty struck out 58 in his 56.0 innings pitched and ranked in the 96^th percentile among Major League pitchers with an average fastball velocity of 98.5 MPH in 2025.

Stanek has appeared in 30 career postseason games, going 4-0 with a 2.89 ERA, and was a member of the 2022 World Series Champion Houston Astros. His 1.15 ERA during the 2022 regular season set the Astros’ franchise record for lowest mark by a reliever and was tops among American League relief pitchers that season.

Between 2018 and 2019, Stanek combined to make 56 starts for Tampa Bay as an “Opener”, and in 2018 he became the first rookie in Major League history to have 25 starts and 25 relief appearances in a single season.

Stanek, who pitched for three seasons at the University of Arkansas, was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 1^st round (29^th player overall) of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft.

Born in St. Louis, and into a family of St. Louis Cardinals fans, Ryne was named after Chicago Cubs Hall of Famer, the late Ryne Sandberg.