RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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SportsMoney Expiring Contracts May Inspire 2 St. Louis Cardinals’ Pitcher Trades By Bernie Pleskoff ,
Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Bernie Pleskoff is a former professional Major League Baseball scout Follow Author Aug 01, 2026, 02:00am EDT --:-- / --:-- This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more . This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more . Summary The St. Louis Cardinals have two pitchers, Dustin May and Ryne Stanek, drawing significant trade interest from playoff-contending teams as the deadline nears. Both right-handers are on expiring contracts, making them attractive free-agent-to-be options. Dustin May, a 28-year-old starting pitcher, is considered a major prize, boasting a diverse six-pitch arsenal and a career 3.99 ERA. He's currently on a $12.5 million deal. Ryne Stanek, a 35-year-old veteran reliever, offers valuable high-leverage bullpen support or potential starting experience, featuring a 97 MPH fastball and a 4.25 ERA this season. His $3.5 million contract includes a 2027 team option, making both valuable assets for teams seeking to bolster their pitching staff.
Two St. Louis Cardinals pitchers may be on the wish lists of Major League Baseball teams still in contention for the playoffs.
Right-handers Dustin May, and Ryne Stanek are pitching on expiring contracts. Both can become free agents at the end of the World Series.
As noted by baseballreference.com, Dustin May, 28, is in the starting rotation. Stanek, 35, pitches in relief.
May would be a major prize for a contending team.
Stanek would offer help in high leverage, late inning situations, or he could assume a role as a starter. Stanek has started 56 games in his 10 year career.
Redbirdrants.com recently wrote about May and Stanek.
The big righty with flaming red hair and a long, bushy beard was chosen by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 3rd round of the 2016 MLB draft.
May was selected from Northwest High, in Justin, Texas.
As noted by truebluela.com , with MLB’s $590,800 slot bonus for that pick, the Dodgers gave May a $1 Million signing bonus.
One of the primary reasons for May’s hefty bonus was his 93-94 MPH fastball, which was pretty special for a high school pitcher
May is pitching on a 1-year, $12.5 Million contract. If he’s traded, his new team will be responsible for the final two months of the contract.
May’s last start was a no-decision in a Cardinals extra-innings victory over the Chicago Cubs July 29, 2025.
May is not scheduled to start again prior to the August 3 trade deadline.
May made his MLB debut with the Dodgers August 2, 2019.
May made 52 starts with the Dodgers, before being traded to the Boston Red Sox in July 2025.
The St.Louis Cardinals signed May as a free agent December 17, 2025.
If he’s traded, May will leave St. Louis with a 5-7 record, a 4.38 ERA, and a 1.28 WHIP in 21 starts, covering 109 innings.
May has a lifetime record of 24-27, with a 3.99 ERA, and a 1.22 WHIP in 78 career starts, covering 433 innings.
May brings a complete repertoire to the mound.
May throws a 96.3 four-seam fastball, a 96.80 MPH sinker, a 90.34 MPH changeup, a slider at 86.34 MPH, a curve at 84.12 MPH, and a cutter at 93.61 MPH.
May is skilled at changing the eye level, and altering the balance of the hitter by mixing and matching this arsenal.
May is deceptive, because the hitter never knows what to look for from among May’s vast menu of pitches.
May uses his four-seam fastball 27.19% of the time, his sinker 19.30%, his cutter 22.59%, his curve 5.92%, his slider 18.86%, and his changeup 6.14% of the time.
An attractive starting pitching option, May may attract a number of trade inquires as the trade deadline looms.
Relief pitchers are growing more critical to major league teams.
The St. Louis Cardinals Ryne Stanek is a big, strong 6-4, 228 pitcher with 10 years of MLB experience.
In the 3rd round of the 2010 MLB draft, Stanek was chosen by the Seattle Mariners out of Blue Valley High School in Stilwell, Kansas.
Stanek turned down an $80,000 signing bonus to attend University of Arkansas.
After a terrific collegiate career, Stanek was chosen by the Tampa Bay Rays with the 29th pick in the 1st round of the 2113 MLB draft.
Stanek signed with the Rays for $1,758,300.
The Rays traded Stanek to the Miami Marlins in July 2019.
Stanek has pitched for the Rays, the Marlins, the Astros, the Mariners, the Mets, and now the Cardinals.
Stanek is in his first year with the Cardinals, pitching on a 1-year, $3.5 Million expiring contract.
The Cardinals hold an option for the 2027 season.
This season, Stanek has a 2-2 record, a 4.25 ERA, and a 1.44 WHIP in 47 relief appearances for St. Louis.
Stanek offers experience as a reliever, and brooksbaseball.net notes a 97.44 miles per hour fastball, an 87.93 miles per hour slider, and a 89.48 MPH split.
With Dustin May the prize, the St. Louis Cardinals have two solid pitching options who could be made available at the trade deadline.
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