Mets’ Late-Inning Lefty: Bullpen Primed to Compete with Stanek Addition
The Mets have signed Ryne Stanek to a one-year deal for $4.5 million, which means two things: 1) the bullpen is getting another high-leverage, lefty setup man, and 2) A Pete Alonso reunion sounds more likely than before—at least for now.
Ryne Stanek is returning to the Mets' bullpen in 2025, per @AnthonyDiComo: https://t.co/9bUgNeNBnb pic.twitter.com/QKFA3OBjO8
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) January 29, 2025
Do The “Stan(e)ky” Leg…
First, Stanek. His 2024 was quite a ride. Over 63 games in the regular season, he pitched to a 7-3 record, put up a 4.88 ERA, with 67 Ks in 55.1 innings—basically, your standard “some nights electric, some nights terrifying” reliever. Then he got to the Mets at the trade deadline and lit it up: 6.06 ERA in 17 appearances, but somehow still struck out 23 batters in 16.1 innings. You watch him and wonder if he’s unhittable or about to walk the bases loaded. Usually, the answer is “yes.”
Bullpen to Put Some “Stan(e)k” On It
But postseason Stanek was a whole different story, solidifying Mets’ fans’ desire for a reunion. Talk about “heat;” seven appearances, 3.38 ERA, eight Ks in eight innings. That one win from Stanek was a sign of relief for Mets fans. When it mattered most, he was actually shoving. The Mets are now banking on that version of Stanek showing up in 2025, a force to be reckoned with in the postseason, not the one who made Citi Field a stress test last August. He brings an electric fastball and a nasty splitter to the Queens Relief Corps.
Bullpen
- Edwin Díaz (CLS)
- A.J. Minter (SU8)
- Ryne Stanek (SU 7/8)
- José Buttó (SU7/SP)
- Reed Garret (R)
- Sean Reid-Foley(R)
- Dedniel Núñez (R)
- Tylor Megill (R/SP)
Options
- Paul Blackburn (R/SP)
- Griffin Canning (R)
- Huascar Brazobán (R)
- Danny Young (R)
Jury’s Not Out on Alonso
What’s interesting is this signing makes another thing pretty clear. The Mets are not about to give up on Alonso, but it sounds like the ball is in his court. They wouldn’t have made a price-conscious reliever signing without holding out for one last push for Pete. Especially with multiple reports stating he is “desperate to come back to New York” after owner Steve Cohen broke precedence with his full transparency when speaking to fans at Amazin’ Day. Going into detail regarding how negotiations have been with a player’s camp, especially this offseason, at a fan event is not something many MLB club owners do. As New York Post’s Jon Heyman put it, Alonso is still very much in the mix.
