With the July 30 trade deadline approaching fast, the Mets acquired RHP Ryne Stanek from the Seattle Mariners on Friday to bolster the bullpen.
The 33-year-old reliever spoke to reporters from the Mets clubhouse for the first time Saturday ahead of the team’s game against the Atlanta Braves, and said getting traded “from contender to contender” was a bit different, but he’s looking forward to continuing to contribute to a winning club.
“It was kind of weird,” Stanek said. “When you find out you’re getting traded, it’s always like, ‘Oh, ok cool. Where?’ It was cool. It was definitely different considering when I was there we were contending, but going from contender to contender is good. If you’re going to go somewhere, you definitely want to go someplace you can win. It’s good to be here whenever the boys are playing good baseball.”
Stanek was then asked if the trade came as a surprise to him, but he pointed out how Seattle has been pretty active heading into the trade deadline and will likely “continue making moves.” The Mariners made a splash Thursday, acquiring 2023 All-Star outfielder Randy Arozarena from the Tampa Bay Rays, and then traded for reliever Yimi García from the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday.
“That’s kind of what I was leading into right there,” Stanek said. “Contending and you get moved, and then get moved to another contender, it’s odd, it felt odd. It wasn’t something that felt like it wasn’t going to happen because obviously they have been making moves and are probably going to continue making moves. I think it’s just kind of in their M.O. of what they like to do. I think it’s gonna work out, so we’re good.”
The Mariners are currently 54-51 and second in the AL West, one game back of the Houston Astros, and are 3.5 games back for the third AL Wild Card spot. Meanwhile, the Mets have won five straight and are now 0.5 games up on the Atlanta Braves and San Diego Padres for the top NL Wild Card spot. New York is in need of some help in the bullpen after reliever Dedniel Nunez was placed on the IL Friday with a right pronator strain.
“I would like to think I can come in and help,” Stanek said. “I think the whole plan is just go out and do my job and go from there.”
Over 46 appearances this season, Stanek is 6-3 with a 4.38 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, seven saves, and 46 strikeouts over 39.0 IP. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters prior to Saturday’s game that Stanek is available and “the expectation” is that he’ll slot into the late innings right away. Stanek then spoke about his thoughts on the Mets this year, noting he has good relationships with Phil Maton and Harrison Bader.
“It’s a good team, it’s a super talented team, it’s a team that’s been playing good,” Stanek said. “From everything I’ve heard from guys I know from here, it’s a good group and the group is playing well, so it’s exciting to come in and be a piece of this.”
He later added about his playoff experience with the Houston Astros: “It’s a little different environment here, there’s not so many super young guys that don’t have experience. There’s guys in here that have won and played in the playoffs and done a lot of things. It’s not so much like you have to teach a kid that just got here how to play in the big leagues. There’s a lot of guys with a lot of experience that know what they’re doing. I don’t think it’s going to be much of that. I think it’s more just fitting in, being a piece, doing your job, and going from there.”