The St. Louis Cardinals face a tough choice with veteran pitcher Ryne Stanek. His future in the city is looking shaky after a rough season. ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported on Thursday that Stanek’s option is “unlikely to be picked up.” That single line says it all. The team signed him to a one-year, $3.5 million deal with a $6 million club option for 2027. At 35 years old, handing him that much money makes no sense. Rebuilding the bullpen completely is essential for the Cardinals, so retaining Stanek moves them wrongly.
Passan listed 14 players across baseball who probably won’t get their options renewed. Stanek was the only Cardinals player on that list. The numbers back up the decision. Stanek has pitched in 64 games this year with a 4.42 ERA. He has a 60-to-29 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 57 innings. Those stats show a pitcher who is struggling. He was talked about as a trade chip when he signed, but his early season struggles killed his value. There is no reason to pay him $6 million next year.
The Bullpen Needs A Total Overhaul
The rest of the relief corps tells a different story. Riley O’Brien leads the National League with 36 saves despite some tough moments. He was an All-Star this season and should stay. With 56 appearances, a 2.70 ERA, and 1.5 wins above replacement, Gordon Graceffo has been a revelation. Among relievers present all season, nobody else exceeds 0.4 wins above replacement. Justin Bruihl matches that 0.4 mark and could be an option next year.
Across all of baseball, the 24th-ranked bullpen ERA belongs to the Cardinals. It desperately needs to be improved. Once the 2026 regular season concludes, the team must return to the drawing board. Handing Stanek $6 million would block the path to a better team. St. Louis benefits most since his option likely will not be picked up. The fans want a strong bullpen, not a costly mistake.
