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Royals Release Ross Stripling, Luke Maile

By Nick Deeds | March 23, 2025 at 11:59am CDT

The Royals announced this morning that they’ve granted both right-hander Ross Stripling and catcher Luke Maile their release. Both players had opt-out opportunities in their contracts as Article XX(B) free agents and requested their release if not added to the club’s active roster.

Stripling, 35, is the more well-known player of the two. He debuted back in 2016 with the Dodgers and excelled in a swing role with the club for four seasons, posting a 3.51 ERA (115 ERA+) and 3.60 FIP in 387 innings split between 52 starts and 84 relief appearances from 2016 to 2019. That impressive stretch included an All-Star appearance in 2018, and established Stripling as one of the game’s premiere swing men. Unfortunately, things came off the rails somewhat for Stripling over the next two seasons, as he was traded to the Blue Jays partway through the shortened 2020 season and surrendered a 5.14 ERA with a 5.52 FIP in 150 2/3 innings of work.

The right-hander returned to form during his age-32 season with Toronto in 2022, posting a strong 3.01 ERA in 134 1/3 innings of work that came primarily out of the rotation with a similarly strong 3.11 FIP. Unfortunately, that return to form proved to be something of a flash in the pan, as Stripling pitched poorly in each of the past two seasons after returning to California and pitching in the Bay Area. Between the Giants and Athletics the past two seasons, Stripling surrendered a 5.68 ERA and 4.57 FIP in 174 1/3 innings of work. That included a worryingly low 12.9% strikeout rate in 85 1/3 innings for Oakland last year.

Given those struggles, it was no surprise when Stripling had to settle for a minor league deal with Kansas City. Unfortunately for Stripling, he surrendered 14 runs (13 earned) on 17 hits (including five homers) and one walk during his eight innings of work this spring. That disastrous performance, in conjunction with a fairly deep arsenal of starting-caliber arms in the fold with the Royals, left Stripling without much of a path back to the majors. He’ll now search for a better opportunity elsewhere, though it’s likely he’ll need to prove himself at Triple-A before getting a big league opportunity at this point.

As for Maile, the 34-year-old signed on with the Royals last month on a minor league pact and has done quite well for himself this spring, with a .333/.391/.571 slash line in ten games. With that being said, Maile’s status as a veteran of nine MLB seasons who has never hit much makes a strong spring performance unlikely to move the needle in clubs’ evaluations of him, and the Royals are set up well behind the plate with their current combination of Salvador Perez and Freddy Fermin. That led Maile to depart the club in search of another opportunity today, and it’s not hard to imagine him finding one. Maile is fairly well-regarded as a defensive option behind the plate, and profiles as a serviceable second or third catcher for a big league club. With players like Tyler Stephenson and Sean Murphy having suffered injuries this spring, it’s not hard to imagine Maile finding a job with a club prior to Opening Day even after he hit just .210/.291/.331 in 127 games with the Reds over the past two seasons.

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Kansas City Royals Transactions Luke Maile Ross Stripling

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15 Comments

  1. Datashark

    7 months ago

    Looks like end of the line, time to retire – Ross, ya had a journeyman good run

    Although he is maybe 1 -2 years away from 10y service time so maybe he tries to hang on to get to that mark

    1
    Reply
  2. freddiemeetgibby

    7 months ago

    Come on chicken Strip, you can do it!

    1
    Reply
  3. Reds2024

    7 months ago

    Maile will probably come back to the Reds. Will be up in April while Stephenson gets healthy and will go to Louisville when he returns. He is a Kentucky native so if he has to play in the minors Louisville is probably his top choice.

    2
    Reply
    • This one belongs to the Reds

      7 months ago

      I was thinking tge same. An upgrade over Wynns.

      Reply
    • Joe It All

      7 months ago

      I definitely see him back with the Reds. Being that Cincinnati is 5 minutes from where he grew up and Louisville is only an hour and a half, that seems like the most logical spot especially when the Reds starting catcher is starting the season on IR.

      1
      Reply
      • This one belongs to the Reds

        7 months ago

        In related news, I guess I will report that Alexis Diaz is starting the season on IL since I didn’t see it here.

        Reply
        • Joe It All

          7 months ago

          I didn’t see that either. Did he suffer an injury today? Or something pesky that has been bothering him?

          Reply
        • This one belongs to the Reds

          7 months ago

          The hamstring injury he had earlier when he wasn’t pitching was listed so it must still be bugging him. It has been obvious he hasn’t been himself. Sounds like he is going to stay at camp until a rehab assignment at some point.

          Reply
  4. Non Roster Invitee

    7 months ago

    Stripling going to work for Land O’Lakes so he can milk some more.

    Reply
  5. mab51357

    7 months ago

    Stripling was a disaster with the Giants. He’s a really good teammate and a good clubhouse presence though. Unfortunately I think his better days are behind him. If he does get picked up I wish him the best.

    Reply
    • paddyo furnichuh

      7 months ago

      And solid financial planner for teammates.

      Reply
  6. phenomenalajs

    7 months ago

    Either Maile or Nido could be a solution for the Mets over Senger while Alvarez is out, though having a supermarket employee as the backup catcher is a feel good story.

    Reply
  7. Andujar

    7 months ago

    How many posts in a row can we see the phrase “went off the rails”?

    Reply
    • This one belongs to the Reds

      7 months ago

      When guys are getting released, it’s not because they are playing well!

      Reply
  8. Old York

    7 months ago

    The smart play would’ve been to keep one or both on cheap deals, let them prove themselves in the minors, and have them ready just in case. Instead, the Royals are acting like their current team will stay perfect all year—no injuries, no surprises

    1
    Reply

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