The Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs are reportedly interested in a notable World Series champion pitcher, according to recent reports. While the exact identity of the player isn’t specified, the connection to both teams suggests they’re eyeing a veteran with significant playoff experience. This could be a key move for either club as they look to bolster their pitching staff for the upcoming season.
Ryne Stanek’s performance over the last four seasons highlights some intriguing trends. After strong outings in his first two years with Houston (2021-22), where he posted a 2.41 ERA and 3.62 FIP, his numbers took a downturn in 2023 and 2024. His ERA rose to 4.50, with a corresponding FIP of 4.36, signaling a decrease in effectiveness. However, his strikeout rate has remained fairly stable, dropping only slightly from 28.2% to 26%, and his walk rate has improved from 13.2% to 10.1%, which is a positive sign.
Stanek’s struggles appear to stem from his batted ball profile. Over the past two seasons, his barrel rate has climbed to 8.4%, and he’s allowed more fly balls (51.6% in 2023-24 compared to 43.5% in 2021-22). Additionally, the percentage of fly balls turning into home runs has increased from 7.8% to 10.9%, contributing to a rise in home runs allowed. Despite these issues, Stanek still boasts a fastball averaging 97.9 mph, and his 3.56 SIERA in 2024—his best since 2018—suggests there’s still room for a potential rebound.
The Cubs’ interest in Ryne Stanek fits with their approach of targeting bullpen reclamation projects. They’ve had success with similar pitchers like Julian Merryweather and Mark Leiter Jr., and Stanek’s velocity, along with his past performance, could make him a low-risk, high-reward addition. While he may not be as high-profile as some of the other relievers Chicago has pursued this offseason, like Tanner Scott or Ryan Pressly, Stanek could still add valuable depth to the bullpen at an affordable cost.
The Braves, despite having a strong bullpen core, are dealing with some gaps due to Joe Jiménez’s injury. With Raisel Iglesias, Pierce Johnson, and Aaron Bummer already in place, adding another experienced arm like Stanek could help strengthen their relief corps. His affordability might be particularly appealing to the Braves as they juggle bullpen upgrades alongside potential rotation adjustments following the departures of Max Fried and Charlie Morton.
For both the Braves and Cubs, Stanek presents a cost-effective option with the potential for a bounce-back season. While his recent performance has been inconsistent, his high strikeout rates and elite velocity provide optimism as both teams look to enhance their bullpens for 2025.
