Winter Meetings Rumor: Cubs eye veteran reliever Ryne Stanek |
Dustin Riese
· · 13 hours ago
By now, everyone knows the rumor mill is hot and heavy as the Winter Meetings continue to push full steam ahead. What you make of those rumors is up to you, but more often than not, they are just rumors, as they tend not to come true. One rumor that has come out of nowhere regarding the Cubs involves the relief market and centers on right-hander Ryne Stanek.
This is a pitcher the Cubs tried to acquire years ago, only to fail to get the job done. Now that he is a free agent once again, it does seem as if the Cubs have interest in the longtime veteran. According to reports, the Cubs have not only checked in with the 34-year-old Stanek and his representatives, but it appears a formal offer could be made in the coming days. Could he be next on the Cubs' checklist for their offseason? Knowing the need for bullpen arms and how successful this team has been with reclamation projects, it is a possibility as this would be your classic Jed Hoyer signing. Adding this version of Stanek won't excite anyone, but if you add him on a cheap prove-it deal, there is plenty of value in it. Coming off a season in which Stanek posted a 5.30 ERA in 65 games with the Mets, 2025 was undoubtedly a struggle for the right-hander, as he is nowhere as successful as he once was. There was a time not all that long ago when Stanek was part of a dominant Houston bullpen, serving as one of the unsung heroes in the late innings. Take 2022, for example, when he was arguably the best pitcher on the entire staff. It was in that season when Stanek appeared in 58 games, going 2-1 and posting a 1.15 ERA. That's correct, a 1.15 ERA for a season is incredible anyway you look at it, and for Stanek to do that while pitching half his games in Houston makes it that much more impressive. What stands out the most when it comes to Stanek is his overall versatility in the pen. This is a guy who not only can pitch in the middle innings but also has shown the ability to pitch in the late innings as a high-leverage arm, while also closing on occasion. His days as a closer are long gone, and so could the high-leverage days, but adding him as a middle reliever is where the Cubs could get their money's worth. Since his time with the Astros ended, it has been an absolute struggle for Stanek, as you could see his age starting to catch up with him. After posting a 4.38 ERA with the Mariners to begin the 2024 season, Stanek was traded to the Mets, where he spent the remainder of 2024 and all of 2025. In 82 total games, Stanek tallied 72 innings with the Mets, going 5-6 with three saves and posting a putrid 5.58 ERA. That included a 5.30 ERA this past season, as Stanek struggled to consistently get hitters out. A big reason for that was his command, which has often been his undoing as a pro. He walked 32 hitters in 56 innings this season, while also striking out 58. That isn't the ratio you want, despite some overall substantial strikeout numbers, as he will need to find a way to harness his command if he wants to land another MLB deal. Along with his overall versatility in the pen comes the life on his heater as Stanek has always been a guy capable of touching triple digits, but more often than not sits in the 98-99 MPH range. He was closer to 97 MPH last season, but that would still put him with the second-fastest average velocity in the Cubs pen, only behind Daniel Palencia. If the Cubs have, in fact, contacted Stanek and presented him with even a modest offer, this isn't a deal where you would think the Cubs are breaking the bank for. Instead, you could have a situation where the Cubs could offer him a deal similar to Thielbar from last season on a one-year, $3.5-4 million. That alone is worth the chance of adding him to this team, even if it doesn't pan out.
