Free Agent Profile: Ryne Stanek, RP

Ryne Stanek, RP

Position: RP B/T: R/R

Player Data: Age: 33 (07/26/1991)

2024 Traditional Stats: 63 G, 55 1/3 IP, 4.88 ERA, 1.319 WHIP, 7-3, 67 SO, 25 BB
2024 Advanced Stats: 78 ERA+, 27.8% K%, 10.4% BB%, 3.46 xERA, 4.14 FIP, 4.18 xFIP, 0.0 fWAR

Rundown

Ryne Stanek broke into the majors in 2017 with the Tampa Bay Rays, and was generally decent in the late 2010s, pitching to a 3.80 ERA over 163 1/3 innings from 2017-19. Tampa Bay often used him as an opener, and he made 56 starts with them. However, Stanek was never truly stretched out like a traditional starter. For instance, in 2018, where he started 29 games, he only hurled a total of 66 1/3 innings.

After a forgettable stint with the Miami Marlins, Stanek signed with the Astros in 2021 and had an excellent run with them. The Astros primarily used him as a setup man, and he shined in that role. In three years of service with Houston, he recorded a 2.90 ERA while striking out 196 in 173 2/3 innings pitched, translating to a 143 ERA+.

Stanek showed flashes of ability but struggled with inconsistency and control issues during his time with the Astros (4.6 BB/9, 4.09 ERA in 2023). As a result, he signed a one-year, $4 million deal with the Seattle Mariners. However, his production with the Mariners was lackluster (4.38 ERA, 1.333 WHIP), which led Seattle to trade him to the Mets before the trade deadline in 2024. Unfortunately, Stanek’s struggles continued with New York, as he posted a poor 6.06 ERA down the stretch. Still, he managed to boost his stock in the 2024 postseason, finishing three games with solid performances.

Stanek primarily relies on his 97.7 mph fastball, which he throws about 60% of the time, while also mixing in a splitter and slider, each of which he throws around 20% of the time. When he joined Houston, he slightly increased his usage of the splitter, but aside from that, his pitch selection and velocity have remained relatively consistent over the years, as he has stuck with his three-pitch mix. His fastball velocity has consistently ranged from 97-98 mph, with the exception of a difficult 2020 season.

Stanek’s stuff has always been effective, and in 2024, he demonstrated his value with some standout performances. Last year, he missed bats 33% of the time, which ranked in the 94th percentile, and his strikeout rate of 27.8% placed him in the 82nd percentile. The two biggest knocks on him are his inconsistency in throwing strikes and his tendency to allow hard contact when he does.

Stanek’s walk rate has ranked among the worst in the league in recent years (20th in 2024, 28th in 2023, and 1st in 2022). While his command issues have been a problem, they’ve been solvable in the past. Specifically, Stanek recorded a 1.15 ERA in 2022.

Contract

At 33 years old, Stanek will be forced to look for a short-term contract. It seems reasonable that he could earn a similar salary to what he’s been making in recent years. That would put him somewhere in the range of $2-5 million annually for one or two years. While the market for high-leverage, right-handed relievers is still developing, there isn’t a lot of room for a major raise or cut from his past paychecks.

Recommendation

The Mets have a dire need for bullpen arms, and Stanek’s skillset can fill that void well. His experience in high-leverage situations makes him a viable candidate for the seventh or eighth inning, providing a bridge to closer Edwin Díaz.

While Stanek represents a solid buy-low option with notable upside, his control problems introduce a level of risk. Given his reasonable cost, Stanek is a worthwhile addition for a team looking to strengthen its bullpen, and the Mets are one of those teams.

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