3 NY Mets free agent reunions that have not yielded the results we were looking for

3) Ryne Stanek

Unlike the two counterparts previously listed, Stanek has been bitten by the inconsistency bug through the first few dozen contests. A key piece in the 2024 postseason bullpen, the one-year agreement with the right-hander provided another stable arm that could serve as the bridge to closer Edwin Diaz or an endgame alternative to the All-Star.

But while Stanek started off 2025 similar to how he ended 2024, blown saves and some crooked numbers have inflated Stanek’s ERA to 4.26 across 12.2 innings. In high-leverage spots where Stanek has been tasked to deliver, he has done the complete opposite, prompting spectators to now hold their breaths whenever he emerges from the bullpen gates.

Now unlike Winker and Manaea, the fix for Stanek could simply be slotting him down the pecking order, calling on his services for lower leverage and lesser hitters. Any reliever’s volatility is usually derived from a combination of execution and confidence. Perhaps what can get the right-hander back on track is a new in-game scene, where the lights and pressure aren’t as burdensome.

In doing so, Mendoza’s task of putting Stanek in the ideal spot is complicated by the extenuating circumstances surrounding his other relievers. The bullpen has locked down key games early on in the campaign, but it comes at the expense of the likes of Reed Garrett, Husacar Brazoban, and Max Kranick being thrust into multi-inning and multi-day outings, shutting them down for a day or two.

Whether it’s molded through heat and pressure, or keeping him out of danger, Stanek has at least three-quarters of the season to navigate bouts of poor execution and reducing traffic on the bases.