One of the key pieces of the bullpen for last year’s Houston Astros is getting a look from the New York Mets.
Per MLB.com, the Mets have interest in Stanek as they continue to reshape their bullpen under first-year president of baseball operations David Stearns, a former Astros staffer who led the Milwaukee Brewers’ front office for several years.
While Stanek has wade through free agency, the Astros have been busy reshaping their bullpen, to the point where there may be no landing spot for Stanek.
The Astros just signed closer Josh Hader, a former Astros farmhand who found success with San Diego, to a five-year deal. Assuming Hader is the closer, then last year’s closer, Ryan Pressly, moves into a set-up role with the returning Rafael Montero and Bryan Abreu. The Astros also traded for Dylan Coleman in December.
Also on the team’s depth chart are Shawn Dubin, Seth Martinez, Parker Mushinski, Bennett Sousa, Ronel Blanco, Forrest Whitley and Oliver Ortega.
So Stanek may need to go elsewhere, and the Mets — who are high on improving its set-up positions in front of returning closer Edwin Diaz — might be a good spot for Stanek.
Stanek joined the Astros as a free agent before the 2021 season and the right-hander became a workhorse alongside Abreu, Montero and two other free agents, Phil Maton and Hector Neris.
Stanek went 8-7 in relief with a 2.90 ERA in 168 appearances. He pitched in three saves but had 41 holds, including 21 in 2021 and 17 in the Astros’ World Series title season of 2022.
He made at least 55 appearances in each season with Houston and struck out more than 10 hitters per nine innings.
Stanek also pitched for Tampa Bay from 2017-19 and for Miami from 2019-20. He was the Rays’ first-round pick in 2013.
More must-reads: