Many people are curious about how the Cardinals can improve their team during a rebuild. Well, this is certainly one way to do so. The Cardinals are looking to add veteran players. These veterans will help the younger ones during this rebuild. Players like Dustin May can take on that role for them. Still, they needed that bullpen leader. That’s where Ryne Stanek comes in.

According to Mark Feinsand on X.com, Ryne Stanek has signed a one-year deal with a club option for 2027. Stanek will make $3.5 million in 2026, and if his option is picked up, he will make $6 million in 2027. The Cardinals’ bullpen is already extremely talented, and this only adds to it. It’s unknown what type of role he will play. Yet, it’s most likely a similar role to what Phil Maton did last year.

What works for Stanek?

The key with Stanek is his velocity. In 2025, Stanek averaged his fastball around 98.5 MPH. If the Cardinals can consistently keep that velocity for him, he will be formidable in the bullpen. Stanek also has a few secondary pitches to help him out, which include a slider, a splitter, and a sweeper. He also has the advantage of being the hometown kid, as he grew up in St. Louis.

Should Recent Decline be a Worry?

Ryne hasn’t had an elite season in a while. Nonetheless, that shouldn’t be the only thing fans consider. It’s important when evaluating a player like him. He usually ends the year in the 4-6 ERA range. Still, that shouldn’t discourage you from this signing. Ryne Stanek throws extremely hard, and when he can locate the pitch, he does phenomenal. There are still some obvious concerns, yet Dusty Blake should have no problem working with Stanek on these issues.

Impact on the Cardinals?

Ryne Stanek should be capable of giving leadership within the Cardinals clubhouse. He will also offer guidance in the bullpen as he gets to pitch for his hometown team. The amount of experience Stanek has is rare. It’s beneficial to have these types of players in the clubhouse. This is especially true when they’ve won a World Series before. Cardinals fans should be very excited for this signing. It only benefits the future of the Cardinals in positive ways with little to no negative outcomes.