The Cardinals may enter a competitive bidding process for a pitcher to strengthen their bullpen.
The St. Louis Cardinals made quick moves in the early stages of free agency, securing three starting pitchers before most other teams made any signings. However, since then, Cardinals’ President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak has proceeded slowly.
While the trade involving Tyler O’Neill added pitching depth and acquiring right-hander Andrew Kittredge bolstered the bullpen, the primary objective remains adding another high-caliber arm to complement Ryan Helsley, Giovanny Gallegos, and Jojo Romero.
Rumors suggest that interest is growing for Ryne Stanek, one of the top players within their targeted price range, formerly with the Houston Astros. Both the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs have reportedly expressed interest in the 32-year-old, as reported by USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.
It would be prudent for the Cardinals to engage in negotiations before the competition intensifies.
Stanek’s performance statistics from last season include a 4.09 ERA, a 51-to-21 strikeout-to-walk ratio, a .221 batting average against, and a 1.24 WHIP in 50 2/3 innings. While these numbers would be welcome in St. Louis, Stanek has demonstrated even greater potential, notably during the Astros’ World Series campaign in 2022, where he posted a 1.15 ERA with a 62-to-31 strikeout-to-walk ratio, a .188 batting average against, and a 1.23 WHIP in 54 2/3 innings.
Although his standout season might be considered an outlier, Stanek has maintained a 142 ERA+ over the past three seasons, indicating that he has performed 42% better than the league average during this period.
Considering their last-place finish in the National League Central, the Cardinals urgently need to enhance their pitching staff. Acquiring Stanek would not only strengthen their roster but also prevent him from joining their rival, the Cubs, which would be an added benefit.
