The A’s announced Friday that they’ve acquired right-hander Ross Stripling and cash from the Giants in exchange for minor league outfielder Jonah Cox. In order to clear a spot on the 40-man roster, infielder Jonah Bride was designated for assignment. Oakland also confirmed its previously reported one-year deal with lefty Alex Wood.
It’s a rare swap of players between the two Bay Area clubs — one that will add some direly needed pitching to an Athletics roster that’s largely devoid of proven big league arms. The 34-year-old Stripling is coming off a tough first season after signing a two-year, $25MM deal with San Francisco, though he did pitch quite a bit better as the season wore on. The veteran swingman opened the season with 32 1/3 innings of 7.24 ERA ball between the rotation and bullpen before hitting the injured list with a back strain for the next six weeks.
Perhaps Stripling was never at full strength to begin the year, because upon returning from the injured list he pitched much more like his typical self. Over the course of his final 56 2/3 frames, the right-hander notched a 4.29 earned run average with a pedestrian 18.7% strikeout rate and an elite 2.6% walk rate. That lines up far more nicely with Stripling’s broader track record; from 2016-22, he logged a 3.78 ERA in 672 innings split between the Dodgers and Blue Jays.
Stripling is owed $12.5MM this coming season. He had an opt-out opportunity following year one of his contract but unsurprisingly decided to forgo that right after his uneven showing with the Giants. Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reports that the Giants are paying down $3.25MM of Stripling’s salary; the A’s will be on the hook for the remaining $9.25MM.
The A’s could opt to use Stripling in the rotation or in the bullpen. He has ample experience in both roles and has had success in each as well. Certainly, Oakland brass had hoped that by now, several of the young arms acquired in the trades of Matt Olson, Matt Chapman, Chris Bassitt, Sean Manaea, Frankie Montas, Sean Murphy, Lou Trivino and others would have yielded some controllable cornerstone pieces in the starting rotation.
That hasn’t happened, however. Left-hander JP Sears, who posted a 4.54 ERA in 32 starts and 172 1/3 innings out of the rotation last year, is the lone pitcher acquired in that fire sale who’s had any semblance of sustained success with the A’s. Others such as Ken Waldichuk, Kyle Muller, Adrian Martinez, Luis Medina, Zach Logue and Adam Oller (among others) have struggled. Medina did pitch fairly well in the second half of the 2023 season and is likely ticketed for a rotation spot in ’24, but that’s a sample of only 50 innings (4.32 ERA, 21.3% strikeout rate, 11.1% walk rate).
As such, it seems likely that Stripling and Wood will be reunited as not only teammates but rotation-mates. Stripling’s experience oscillating between a starting and relief role could mean he ends up in the bullpen at various points while the A’s take a look at younger arms. His familiarity with that role is a benefit to a team in the Athletics’ situation. If either Stripling or Wood can rebound after posting shaky results with the 2023 Giants, it’s quite likely that a non-contending A’s team will flip them both for younger talent prior to this summer’s trade deadline.
Stripling’s acquisition comes at the cost of the 28-year-old Bride’s roster spot. Bride, a versatile infielder/outfielder who’s played just about every position on the diamond, has appeared in each of the past two big league seasons. He’s batted just .192/.296/.232 in 293 trips to the plate, but he carries a stout .322/.450/.533 line in 401 plate appearances in Triple-A, where he’s walked more often than he’s struck out. The A’s will have a week to trade Bride or attempt to pass him through outright waivers. He still has a minor league option remaining. Between that, his plus hit tool and defensive versatility, he’s a candidate to be claimed or flipped to another club in a separate, minor trade.
As for the Giants, they’ll acquire Oakland’s sixth-round selection from just this past summer’s draft. Cox, 22, batted .287/.366/.403 with a 28.3% strikeout rate and 6.2% walk rate in 145 plate appearances split between the Athletics’ Rookie-level Arizona Complex League and Low-A clubs. Baseball America ranked him 29th among A’s farmhands heading into the 2024 season, touting him as a plus-plus runner who can handle center field. Cox is years away from being a potential big league factor, but despite struggling with strikeouts in his debut season, BA praised his strong bat-to-ball skills and credited him with an above-average hit tool.
For San Francisco, the money saved in the trade is every bit as important as the player side of the return. Moving the bulk of Stripling’s contract dropped the Giants’ payroll to a projected $154MM, per Roster Resource, and they’re now just under $200MM in luxury tax obligations. That gives them $37MM worth of AAV to work with before they come against even the first luxury threshold.
There are any number of ways for Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi to reallocate those funds. The Giants have been linked to Matt Chapman throughout the offseason, and signing him would bolster the infield defense while adding some pop (but also quite a few strikeouts) to the lineup. Cody Bellinger looks like less of a fit than he did prior to the Giants’ signing of Jung Hoo Lee on a six-year deal, but it could conceivably work out if the Giants push Michael Conforto into more of a DH role (or trade Conforto or another outfielder such as Mike Yastrzemski). San Francisco also reportedly made a late offer to Rhys Hoskins before he signed in Milwaukee, so it seems there’s the possibility of adding a bat to the first base/designated hitter mix.
Just as notable is San Francisco’s lack of rotation stability. Ace Logan Webb is one of the game’s best arms, but the trade of Stripling leaves the Giants with zero established arms beyond him. Top prospect Kyle Harrison was solid in last year’s MLB debut, but that amounted to all of 34 2/3 innings. The Giants signed oft-injured reliever Jordan Hicks and plan to plug him into the rotation — a dicey proposition that would be more befitting of a team with only one rotation hole and several workhorse arms ahead of him. Younger righties like Keaton Winn and Tristan Beck could factor into things as well, but it was obvious even before trading Stripling that the Giants needed at least one more starting pitcher.
The Giants have the resources to pursue top-of-the-market arms like Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery, though doing so would require deviating from the front office’s prior aversion to long-term deals for pitchers. Other yet-unsigned options include Michael Lorenzen, Mike Clevinger and Hyun Jin Ryu. The trade market features names like Dylan Cease, Shane Bieber and any number of Marlins hurlers (Edward Cabrera, Braxton Garrett and Jesus Luzardo among them).
Stripling becomes the second pitcher and third free-agent signing from last offseason that the Giants will pay to pitch elsewhere in 2024. San Francisco paid the Mariners $6MM in the trade sending Anthony DeSclafani and Mitch Haniger to Seattle. (DeSclafani has since been flipped to Minnesota along with a bit of additional cash kicked in from the M’s.) They’ll have to hope for better results in this winter’s crop of signees if they hope to avoid a fifth playoff miss in six seasons under the current front office.
julyn82001
Good. Now let’s focus on putting a better season with a very young A’s team…
ruff kuntry
It’s going to be better. They have a good young core. I’ll make a bet they’ll even be a .500 team this year.
C-Daddy
In the AL West? That seems extremely unlikely. Maybe they won’t lose 100 games but even that feels like a stretch.
paddyo furnichuh
The schedules are fairly balanced now, making tough divisions easier for weaker teams.
MLB Top 100 Commenter
Wood and Stripling, couple of guys who pitched both for Dodgers and Giants. I like both acquisitions. A’s have a shot at 70 wins in 2024, but zero chance of anything but last in the division and zero chance of 0.500
Tacoshells
So the giants now only have.. 1 starter who can be expected to pitch more than 70 innings?
collarboners
Were they supposed to rely on Stripling as a full time starter? He was a mess last season. Hopefully this opens up a spot for Montgomery
Datashark
They didnt need to “open” a spot they have plenty of open spots after Webb
collarboners
Well Farhan had previously said he felt fine about the numbers in the rotation, and then now trades one guy away. If they then sign say Snell or Monty that move is to make an upgrade, so they created a spot and then filled it. Whether any of us agrees or not is whatever, but that would be what he’s doing
MLB Top 100 Commenter
Webb, Harrison and Winn?
With Hicks starting?
And Cobb and Ray in second half?
I think 5-6 starters with 70 innings but only Logan Webb over 140 innings.
MLB Top 100 Commenter
Vote for best headline:
Giants trade Stripling for full Monty, or
Giants will Ryu the day they traded Ross.
Candlestoked
@Manny Headline #3 is best, my opinion.
olmtiant
Anyone sign Brasier yet??
MLB Top 100 Commenter
No.
bigdaddyt
Feel bad for Ross real nice guy who always goes out of his way with local media. I’m sure he’s just setting up his after playing career but hope it works out for him with the As
Mo Vaughns Jockstrap
It doesn’t work for anyone when it comes to the A’s
Pete'sView
Ross Stripling — From all accounts a thoughtful gentleman.
foppert2
Yeah. Has done a bit with foul territory. Good guy. Speaks well. Honest. Not afraid to own it. No BS. Hope he does well.
Nevrfolow
I was looking forward to him bouncing back this year. He’s much better than is 2023 turned out to be. I know i’m in the minority with SF fans, but i’m sad to see him go.
Balk
I agree with you. Was hoping for a bounce back season. Hoping this move is because of a big signing on a SP
mlb fan
I think he’s a decent bounce back candidate who should he used as a 100 ip swing guy.
Nevrfolow
I bet you’re right, wouldn’t make sense to lose you’re 3 or 4 starter this late in the off season.
splinkysf
Speedster OF/SS in return. Me thinks we are about to sign a big name SP! This is exciting!!!!
oldgfan
SF really gonna need one of Snell or Montgomery now.
Braves_saints_celts
I know this might be thinking way off the wall, but what if they signed both? Outside of webb their rotation is weak, and even with one of either snell or Montgomery, their rotation still isn’t super great, getting both would make their rotation one of the tops in all of baseball. It won’t happen, but with the giants you can’t rule it out entirely
Rob Schumann
Remember when they signed both Cueto and Samardzija? I bet ownership still does. Doubt San Fran shells out $300+ million for Snell and Monty. Snell would be signed already if he would get a bit more realistic in his salary expectations. He needs to understand a 5 inning starter isn’t getting a $200m contract. I’m not sure why Monty is still available. Unless teams still view him as more of a mid rotation arm instead of the TOR arm he was last year. I guess Boras could be tapping the brakes for some reason but I can’t see what that could be.
bag o ballz
I don’t think they want either, the system has a ton of starting pitchers coming up over the next few years, possible even out of spring so you do probably want a pitcher but no one long term, someone like ryu makes more sense than snell or Montgomery who are both trying to secure long term deals. As it is you have 5 starters right now in Webb, Harrison, hicks, beck, Winn and Cobb and Ray coming off the il mid season so you may want to give the space for teng or Black or whisenhunt or roupp or a few others that have buzz on them to get called up
Jack Hoffman
You’re comparing Stripling to those guys? Lmao
MLB Top 100 Commenter
No, read. They are suggesting that maybe Stripling was only traded because the Giants are planning an upgrade
Buzzz Killington
Cox is Giant
Tacoshells
Giant Cox
paddyo furnichuh
Hiscox (for insurance)
agnes gooch
We finally replaced Dick!
HopefulTwinsFan
Solid acquisition for an A’s team that is practically skin and bones. Hope he can turn it around in Oakland.
oldgfan
Good chance in his last year on contract.
tigers182
The most somberful day for Jonah’s since the whale ate that one
vaderzim
Wow
Mystery13
And just like that, the A’s have had a better offseason than the Jays
Datashark
so Farhan must a SP signing coming or he is attempting to go with a 1 SP and 3 known question marks for the season to start with
luvochka
This move makes no sense unless another starter is coming. The Giants weren’t in a position to give up on a guy with decent upside potential for a prospect unless something is happening.
oldgfan
The long awaited Zaidi – Boras showdown is what’s happening.
Senioreditor
Stripling and Wood should both be fine pitching in Oakland and will both be moved at the deadline.
C Yards Jeff
Article suggests Stripping could be in rotation or could be in bullpen. Can’t see Oakland taking on that kind of salary for relief help.
James Midway
Wow Oakland/Las Vegas/Sacramento/Salt Lake getting 2 starters in one day.
Pads Fans
The two former Giants pitchers combined for 23 starts, 96.2 IP, and a 5.27 ERA. Perfect fit for the A’s.
At least neither had to move.
Datashark
honestly a 5.27 ERA might be an upgrade with that team.
letsgooakland123
it is the team era was 5.54
User 4095290658
In a park with all that foul territory… yikes.
unpaidobserver
To utilize the foul territory you cannot pitch BP.
letsgooakland123
In all seriousness, I think this is a win-win trade. Stripling has success as recently as two seasons ago, post-injury in SF he would basically be Oakland’s best starter, AND he’s adding a new pitch.
For SF, whether this trade is good or not pretty much hinges on whether they can sign a top-tier rotation arm. Which I think they will.
And honestly this is good for Ross himself too because he gets a guaranteed spot in the rotation, unlike SF, and in a pitchers park. He’s setting himself up for a midseason trade to a contender, then hopefully for him a bigger contract than he would get if he stayed in SF.
FPT 2
After the next move the A’s will take the lead over the Braves for franchise moves in the modern era
Gmen777
Does this mean the Giants are gonna go after one more starter? I was far from a fan of Stripling but if you’re planning to start the season rolling out Logan Webb, Kyle Harrison, Jordan Hicks, Keaton Winn and Tristan Beck they’re gonna be 30 games out come the All-Star break.
Dice 66
Hopefully another Bob Welch story for A’s. Don’t know why Pirates didn’t go after this guy.
Mendoza Line 215
They could have gone after both Stripling and Wood.
They have almost run out of starters to go after.
agnes gooch
Gmen—Mason Black is basically ready to go too, and Whisenhunt not far behind. We have lots of young arms! But I do think another move is coming, see how this plays out!
Gmen777
Agnes- too many question marks for me to feel comfortable with. Logan Webb is the only sure thing in that rotation. I seem to be in the minority that if Snell could be had on a six year deal (I think he might come down to that in the end) you go and sign him
agnes gooch
Don’t worry Gmen, more moves coming. Harrison is young and they will limit him this year but he’s going to be a stud. Whiz is amazing too! Black is lesser known but they are high on him.
Snell wanted 9 years, no freaking way! He might be coming down, so might Montgomery. It’s a game of chicken! Also I’ve felt a big trade is brewing, let’s see! Exciting!
Datashark
Dont worry they got middle of the row bats to drive in runs…
oopps… Farhan has more work to do.
cmanson
Are the Giants going to begin to sign derelicts off the street you ask ? Probably.
User 1413108128
cmanson
That would be great! I’m a derelict and would love to sign with the club. I’m immediately getting into the streets so they can find me.
Candlestoked
@manson Why? Are you available?
nacb55
The Giants should learn not to pick through the dodgers scrap heap. They get all the meat off the bones before dealing these players away. Only exceptions are minor leaguers (Yordan, Cruz) or obviously star level players (Turner, Seager)… Verdugo, Kike, Stripling, Puig, Kemp, Looney, Hill, Anderson (and I’m probably missing a bunch more) all were partially elevated by the talent and situations the team surrounded them with.
abcrazy4dodgers
How un-unique. Can go both ways. Jason Schmidt, Brian Wilson, Sergio Romo. Just off the top of the head. Crying in the wrong bowl of cereal.
Datashark
hold up! Jason Schmidt was honestly the best move for giants fans when he went there.
Canuckleball
The thing is, Stripling’s best year was with the Jay s after leaving LA. It’s the very reason SF signed him in the first place.
2022 with the Jays, career high starts and IP’s, best ERA, tied for best ERA+
Gmen777
For a long time it was the other way around tbh. Dodgers signed Jeff Kent, Jason Schmidt, Juan Uribe, Brian Wilson, Sergio Romo heck even Juan Marichal back in the day
FPT 2
Yup, like HoF’ers Casey Stengal and “Iron Man” McGinnity.
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
The Giants replace Bride, Jonah witb Cox, Jonah.
Wonder If they spun a wheel and the player it landed on got cut.
sacball
Jonah Bride was cut by the A’s
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
I read it wrong then. I guess there’s only room for one Jonah for Oakland. I guess they have since moved on from Jonah Hill
King Floch
A’s going ALL IN for their final season in Oakland!
(Someone else probably already made this joke, but whatevs lol)
BPax
I DVR all Mariner games and have seen empty Oakland stands for years. The fans just don’t show up. I feel bad for them on the one hand but man, you have to support the team. Philadelphia, Kansas City, Oakland, now on to Vegas.
williemaysfield
Look at the A’s attendance history on bbreferance. Fans have supported the team, but when they gut the team and are planning to move can you blame them for not showing up?
Wagner>Cobb
One has to wonder if this is the preface to another deal. Maybe Snell or Montgomery will be targeted now.
Good for Stripling though. Hopefully he can return to form in a different environment.
Blackpink in the area
Stripling and Descalfini weren’t good last year but that was their depth. The Giants lost both of them plus Wood plus Manea and replaced them with who? Injured Robbie Ray?
I don’t know what the Giants are doing.
oldgfan
Time will tell.
Blackpink in the area
Sign Snell and Ryu and maybe this team can compete for a playoff spot. But right now the big moves have been signing a guy from the Korean league and trading for a pitcher who will miss at least half the year.
oldgfan
Yup. Everybody stuck on the “right now” and can’t wait out the entire offseason.
Blackpink in the area
Well it is February. I really thought the Giants were going to make some big signings and return to relevancy but instead the Dodgers signed the top 2 guys and the Giants have done very little.
Joe Robbins
Yes sir oldg..
Jordan 5
Wow. Straight to purgatory. Poor chicken strip.
acoss13
White Sox have their own mini purgatory cooking so there’s competition for being absolute garbage!
Enrico Pallazzo
Farhan is an absolute moron. How does he still have a job?
agnes gooch
Get off the internet Mr Pallazzo, it’s nothing but doomers. Don’t repeat the same stupid mantra. Farhan is a brilliant man. He would be picked up immediately as a new president for another team if he was ever let go. I hope ownership signs him to another extension.
mlb fan
“Get off the internet”
.Farhan is that you?…I thought we talked about this anonymous online posting already?
frugalfarhan
Farhan is a brilliant man and he’s also an excellent driver. Just don’t let him pet the rabbit
Enrico Pallazzo
Brilliant man….. Yes perhaps he’s a brilliant painter, writer, chess player, Maybe he excels at interior design or something. I’m sure he has plenty of talent and worth as a human being. So I’ll clarify, I think he is very bad at constructing a professional baseball team. This a reaction after years of waiting for him to turn the corner with this team. 2021 was a grand old time. I think any intelligent person would also agree that it was a product of a magical season where every guy on the roster, played way over their head. It was not due to some stroke of genius from Farhan. Not sure if the problem is that he has a bad plan or that he has a great plan but can’t execute. I’d love to hear what moves he’s made that qualify him as a brilliant man.
disadvantage
@enrico
Of all moves, why this one to complain about Farhan? Farhan has done pretty well moving bad contracts (Melancon, Haniger, DeSclafani, and now Stripling).
As much as I like Stripling as a person, he doesn’t seem especially likely to rebound to anything more than a league-average pitcher, so to move him and most of his salary is one of the best things they could’ve done with him and his roster spot.
Candlestoked
@disadvantaged I’d chew off my right arm to be a league-average pitcher. I’m a righty tho, so never mind.
disadvantage
@candle
Nothing wrong with being a league average pitcher! It’s just that if that’s Strip’s perceived ceiling at $12.5m, they could do a lot better.
deGrom/Langford Texas Ranger
Oakland finally realized that tanking isn’t going to help and decided to start spending $.
User 4095290658
I think it’s obvious there’s been some sort of directive from Manfred that all teams must appear to be spending something..
Call it an ‘unwritten floor’, maybe?
Taejonguy
sorry about that Ross… not sure who you ticked off, but being sentenced to the A’s seems… excessive!
BlueSkies_LA
The good news for Stripling is if he does well he might get parole by midseason.
thecrocusesareinbloom
The Giants must have other pitching moves in the works, because as far as I can tell this now puts their opening day rotation at Webb, Hicks, Harrison, Winn, and Beck, which… does not spark joy lol
oldgfan
What, you don’t trust rookie talent ?
Lack of depth there shows more moves coming for sure. Beck & Winn should be the depth guys..
solaris602
If I had to guess their next move it would be signing Montgomery. Snell wants too much for too many years. Of course they could always trade for Bieber in addition to landing Montgomery
dubtastic
I would not mind those moves at all!
Joe Robbins
Do not worry G fans, Blake Snell is on the way..
HalosHeavenJJ
Nice buy low candidate for the A’s who could very easily be flipped at the deadline.
Nevrfolow
I wonder why the Giants didn’t do that themselves. Could have used Stripling till Robbie Ray returns mid season.
HalosHeavenJJ
No clue. I think the same as you.
Old York
I didn’t know the A’s were trying to be a bit competitive this year. Vegas is going to have to up the odds on them winning the WS this year.
guilderc2000
A’s missed out on Corbin Burnes and had to pivot.
BPax
A’s all in on Ohtani but missed out when they could only offer sixty-five dollars and forty-four cents. Plus, he had to buy his own food and soda in the clubhouse like everyone else.
Jacksson13
Forgot to mention the other “Normal” free items:
pay water fountains,
pay to access mirrors
(see in the movie – “Sex and the Single Girl” – 1964)
pay toilets.
pay toilet paper
pay hand dryers
etc
Pads Fans
Giants making room for Snell.
BPax
What did Stripling do to deserve this? Oh well, at least he’s still in the bigs. Sorta.
YourDreamGM
A+ salary dump. Shouldn’t have been paying him that much anyways. Not good enough or enough innings. Better options.
D for Oakland. Someone has to eat innings. He likely won’t eat enough for his salary. Better options were had for less $. Some much better. Should be a F since this isn’t a good way for them to spend 10 million. It’s possible he is healthy and gives 120 130 innings and I am a nice guy so will give a generous D. They were a smart team not too long ago. They went downhill fast.
Jack Hoffman
You’re really all in with this grades thing. Thats like, kinda your thing is it?
YourDreamGM
It’s a tuff job but someone has to do it. There’s 4 people depending on me for these trade grades and I can’t let them down.
User 4095290658
Who are the four people… lol?
I think you’ve been mostly spot on, btw.
YourDreamGM
I can give you one of them. Username YourDreamGM. The other 3 wish to remain anonymous. It’s actually up to 5 now. I got thumbs up on both comments from a new person or ai. And you make a possible 6! I like to think that there are hundreds or even thousands who enjoy it and remain silent.
You must have a high baseball intelligence and a lil sense of humor.
thegiantshark
Giants are paying ~$2.5M. If he gives them 125-140 IP, it’s a very good deal for OaklandRenoVegaSLC
YourDreamGM
I said it was possible. But he has only done it one time his entire career. Oakland would be the place to do it. He was good in 2022 so not that long ago. 9 10 million is a large chunk of their payroll. Better pitchers went for less or similar. Not a failure of a move but I don’t love it or even like it. If the Giants ate just a lil bit more I would be down with it.
thegiantshark
I could swear the saying is “buy low, sell high”…
frugalfarhan
Additional by subtraction is one way to look at this. There are now something like over 600 innings that will be unaccounted for this year based on historically what is possible from each viable option. Smart money says get ready for at least one SP signing soon but since it’s Farhan probably just get a few more relievers and a couple guys coming back from TJ (the surgery and/or the town across the border).
Redwolves3
Hopefully the change of scenery will help rejuvenate Stripling. Maybe (doubtful) Zaidi will sign Montgomery or Snell or trade for either Cease Luzardo Montgomery Snell or Valdez.
Zaidi MUST do something to win back the fans
TellItGoodbye
Alternatively, the young guys could live up to their hype. That would most definitely win back the fans.
Goin' to Sheetz
I’d like to think this means Snell or Montgomery, but it doesn’t seem like they’re pulling the trigger on much.
scottn59c
It would be hilarious to see Zaidi replace Stripling with Ryu to further the practice of musical chairs with the 2015 Dodgers cast-offs.
I’m glad to see dead weight gone with the departures of Manaea, Stripling Descalfani and Wood. But they’re going to need to be replaced by a more solid foundation than a bunch of unseasoned rookies and a reliever-turned-starter.
TellItGoodbye
Love it!!! FZ is clearing out dead weight! Sure signing a big name gets all the headlines, but it’s equally important to dump past mistakes and underperforming injury-prone roster squatters. Now trade Joey Bart for a pencil, please.
sf fan
DeSclafani, Haniger, Stripling, Wood. All gone. Now play the rookies, the young guys, no matter what. The coaching staff is supposed to be better, so we’ll see how it goes. After all, this is better than what we saw the last couple of years with vets that didn’t contribute.
JayRyder
LOL
BennyGiant
Thank god
Jack Hoffman
All this did was open up the rotation spot for Hicks. The Giants roster is set except for one relief pitcher, which will be a competition between over a dozen minor league guys in spring training. If you’re thinking the Giants are getting Snell, Montgomery, Bellinger or Chapman, then you are seriously delusional.
Jean Matrac
That sounds like pretzel logic to me. They have a full roster, so they’re not going to add much of anyone else? Just about every team has a full roster at this point. You think the Giants wouldn’t sign Snell or Montgomery for the fear of possibly losing someone like Hjelle?
And they don’t even need to worry about something like that. Trading Stripling opened a 40-man roster spot. Keaton Winn, whom everyone is penciling in to the rotation, has been projected as a MIRP. It’s far from delusional, given the money available, that the Giants could sign either of Montgomery or Snell, and move Winn to the pen. Not saying they will, but that is completely reasonable.
thegiantshark
With P & C reporting in a few weeks, the likelihood increases.
Farhan had no problem going the fallback route of Correa… enter a Blake Snell overpay
TellItGoodbye
I fear you may be right on that. Barry Zito 2.0.
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
Except Zito is a far different pitcher than Snell.
Kruk it
Bad day to be a Jonah!!
PGM
tickets gonna be really cheap by July at this rate, place is gonna have the “Candlestick on a getaway day in 1986” kind of feeling, buy an upper reserved seat and sit behind the dug out, will be more employees than patrons
TellItGoodbye
Yeah, my entire extended family and company were planning on going to every game, but now that Ross Stripling is gone, what’s the point.
thegiantshark
Kai Correa had more fans and team impact than Ross Stripling
D-Nice
Oakland gave up a ton of talent to get JP Sears, lol
John Bird
It was reported on the Giants site that Zaidi said he has no plans to add a starter and the trade was to give more opportunities to the younger pitchers.
Jean Matrac
He said that, but he also said he wouldn’t rule out something like signing Snell or Montgomery. And if he did consider the option to add either, he wouldn’t weaken his negotiating position by stating that was his intent.
I agree that he probably won’t sign either one, since some club will probably give in and overpay more than Zaidi is willing to. But I wouldn’t read too much into what any of these baseball execs say. unless it’s said categorically. Zaidi parsed his words carefully.
PutPeteinthehall
C&C headed to SF. Chapman and Clevinger. Still room
for Cease/Luzardo to be had by trade as well.
Jean Matrac
Why in the world would they want Clevinger? Zaidi said, other than TOR options, he wanted to give the young pitchers in the system more of an opportunity. Winn, Beck, Whisenhunt, and possibly Mason Black are equal or better options than Clevinger.
Jerry Hairston Jr's Toupee
Will be interesting to see if they add an impact starting pitcher and bat, or if ownership is just planning on going cheap this season….
seattlehof24
The As are spending 9 million dollars on one player? Have they gone mad?!
Rightout
I can’t believe some folks on here think Oakland has a chance to be a .500 team…well maybe a 90 loss team is what you really ment to say….
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
If history goes their way, they’re a season or two from breaking out and surprising. It’s an actual cycle that has pretty much dated back to the early 00’s. Might not know when or how, but their talent will click at some point and they’ll go on a run.
SFG.1
Birds of a feather.
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
Stripling has always been one of those guys who falls short of being a great pitcher but has flashes of being great. It would be nice if he rebounds and the A’s can flip him at the deadline.
I know people are going to complain about Zaidi, but I think he’s made some fine moves this off-season
hummm babyyyy
Oakland did this as a favor to the Giants. They need to play in their stadium next year for the tv revenue. Down payment on rent.
SFG.1
The Giants now have 3 players on the payroll making $10mil+. Welcome to the new A’s/Rays of MLB.