The Cardinals are moving on from Ryne Stanek’s club option, declining the $6 million decision for the 2027 season and sending the right-hander to free agency, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Derrick Goold.
Stanek will collect a $1 million buyout instead, which means he leaves St. Louis with $3.5 million from his lone year in the Gateway City. He signed a one-year, $2.5 million deal last winter and then gave the Cardinals a full season of work out of the bullpen.
In 62 2/3 innings, Stanek posted a 4.02 ERA with a 24.3% strikeout rate and a 12% walk rate. His 70 appearances matched George Soriano for second-most on the club.
The season fit right into Stanek’s broader track record. Over 521 MLB innings across six teams and parts of 10 seasons, he has carried a 3.87 ERA, a 26.8% strikeout rate and an 11.9% walk rate. By the results alone, 2026 marked a bounce back from his previous two seasons, when he logged a 5.09 ERA over 111 1/3 innings with the Mets and Mariners.
The stuff was still there, too. Stanek’s fastball averaged 98 mph, and he mixed in a slider more often while cutting back his heater from 57.1% usage in 2025 to 51.5% in 2026. That slider proved effective, giving hitters a different look to go with the velocity.
Stanek turned 35 in July, so the market may keep him to one-year offers this winter. Even so, he looks like the kind of veteran teams will want: durable, experienced, and still throwing hard enough to make younger hitters uncomfortable.
In Other News...
Cardinals Have More Riding On JJ Wetherholt Than Fans Realize
Major League Baseballs Rookie of the Year race now has a Cardinals angle worth watching, with second baseman JJ Wetherholt among the three National League finalists alongside Reds infielder Sal Stewart and Mets outfielder Carson Benge. The award is decided by Baseball Writers Association of America voters, and Wetherholts first big league season gave St. Louis plenty to point to beyond the usual rookie buzz, including his defensive work and his impact on the bases.
There is also a little more at stake for the Cardinals than just the trophy itself. If Wetherholt wins the award or even finishes as an MVP finalist, St. Louis could come away with a draft pick, which gives this race a front-office wrinkle as well as an on-field one. Stewart and Benge both put up strong offensive numbers, so the final vote will come down to how writers weigh production, all-around value and the kind of season Wetherholt put together in his debut. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals May Have A Low Cost Answer To Their Lefty Problem
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Ryan Mountcastle has surfaced as one possible fit, bringing the kind of power production that once made him an appealing bat in Baltimore. Injuries slowed him last season, which adds some risk to the idea, and the Cardinals still may lean more heavily toward pitching help as they keep building out the roster. Even so, offensive upgrades remain part of the conversation, and first base looks like one place where a relatively modest move could make a real difference. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Just Made A Trade Fans May Second Guess Later
The Cardinals added another arm to the organization by landing left-hander Eduardo Rivera from the Red Sox in exchange for minor league right-hander Juan Garcia. Rivera has already seen time in both the majors and minors since debuting in 2026, and his mix of experience gives St. Louis some flexibility as it looks for help in either the bullpen or the rotation.
For Boston, the move comes with a longer view in mind, since Garcia is only 18 and has already begun his professional career in the Dominican Summer League. Deals like this often look straightforward at first glance, but the kind of pitcher Rivera has been can become more valuable once a contender starts sorting out innings in the middle of a season. [Read more 🡒]