What’s next for the Atlanta Braves as they look to fortify their pitching staff?
With their outfield needs checked off the list, Alex Anthopoulos is shifting gears to address an area that can make or break a season—pitching.
The Braves have a solid group of arms with some exciting young talent knocking on the door.
However, relying too heavily on internal options without adding experienced depth? Yeah, that’s a gamble that could backfire in a big way.
Braves Turning Their Focus to Pitching Depth
Now, the free agent market for pitchers isn’t exactly overflowing with high-upside options at this point, but there’s some good news.
There are whispers that the Braves have their eyes on a potential bullpen reinforcement. Enter Ryne Stanek, a right-hander with some serious late-inning potential when he’s on.
Ryne Stanek: A Potential Bullpen Addition with Upside
According to Mark Bowman of MLB.com, Atlanta is reportedly interested in Stanek, who split time between the Mets and Mariners last season.
While his regular season numbers—4.88 ERA and 4.14 FIP—don’t exactly jump off the page, he put together a solid postseason with the Mets.
He logged a 3.38 ERA over 8.1 innings and struck out eight. It’s not too shabby when the pressure’s on. Overall, his career postseason stats are good although not the biggest sample size.
Control Has Been a Red Flag
Stanek’s career has been a bit of a rollercoaster. Over eight years, he’s bounced around the league, flashing a high-powered fastball and some wicked offspeed stuff that racks up strikeouts. The downside?
Command issues have haunted him, and last season was no different—his walk rate ranked in the 20th percentile, which isn’t ideal for high-leverage situations.
Still, when you look at his career as a whole—3.65 ERA, 4.14 FIP, and a respectable 3.7 bWAR—it’s clear there’s value here, especially for a Braves team that’s looking to fill the void left by A.J. Minter and Joe Jiménez.
Will a One-Year Deal Get It Done?
Sure, Stanek might not have the same level of reliability those guys brought to the table. Still, he could turn into a solid late-inning option with the right adjustments and Atlanta’s strong bullpen infrastructure.
The best part? Given Stanek’s age and inconsistent track record, he’s not likely to break the bank. And we all know Anthopoulos loves a good bargain, so a classic one-year, prove-it deal could be enough to bring him into the fold.
So, is Ryne Stanek the bullpen piece that puts the Braves over the top? Only time will tell, but stay tuned—there’s still plenty of offseason left, and Anthopoulos isn’t done wheeling and dealing just yet.
