Right-handed pitcher Ross Stripling announced his retirement this morning over social media. He signs off after nine big league seasons with the Dodgers, Blue Jays, Giants, and Athletics.
“After 13 seasons and full of tremendous pride and gratitude, it’s time to hang up the cleats. I never could have imagined the experiences and memories I’d be a part of. They exceeded every hope that my younger self could have dreamt for my baseball career,” Stripling wrote. “It never could have been possible without my family and friends. I also want to give a huge thank you to all my coaches and teammates over the years. I had so much love and support along the way, and I’m thankful to everyone that was a part of it in any form or fashion. All of you helped me be the best baseball player I could be. This has been an unbelievable honor, and I feel incredibly lucky to be so fulfilled and content with leaving the game behind. Now, l’m excited to be home and begin the next chapter of life with my amazing family.”
Stripling spent most of his professional career in the Dodgers organization. A fifth-round draft pick in 2012, he worked his way up the system over the next four years, overcoming early-career Tommy John surgery to make his MLB debut as a member of the Opening Day rotation in 2016. Over four and a half big league seasons as both a starter and reliever for the Dodgers, he pitched more than 400 innings with a 3.68 ERA. He was an All-Star in 2018 and pitched for L.A. in the playoffs in 2016, ’17, and ’19, including three appearances in the 2017 World Series. Unfortunately, he struggled in 2020 and was traded ahead of the deadline, but he still earned a World Series ring for his performance with the Dodgers over the first half of the season.
The first season and a half of Stripling’s Blue Jays tenure weren’t anything to write home about, but his 2022 campaign in Toronto was arguably the best of his career. Across 32 games (24 starts), he set career-highs in wins (10) and FanGraphs WAR (3.0) and career-lows in ERA (3.01) and walk rate (3.7%). He would then turn that performance into a two-year $25 million guarantee from the Giants in free agency.
The two years on that contract would prove to be the final seasons of Stripling’s playing career. He pitched poorly for San Francisco in 2023, and much like what happened the last time he struggled so badly, he was eventually shipped out of town. The Giants sent him to the A’s during the 2023-24 offseason, and he had a similarly rough season in Oakland. All told, he pitched to a 5.68 ERA in 44 games (25 starts) over his two years in the Bay Area. While his big league track record helped him land a minor league deal with the Royals this past winter, he was granted his release after failing to make their Opening Day roster.
Stripling finishes his MLB career with a 4.17 ERA in 846 1/3 innings of work. He collected 40 wins, 11 holds, and four saves, while racking up 741 strikeouts. MLBTR congratulates Stripling on a successful major league tenure and wishes him all the best in whatever comes next.
Still can’t explain the Giants trade of Stripling to the A’s for Jonah Cox.
Why would the A’s take on that contract? Only thing that makes sense is it was part of the agreement for the A’s to play in Sacramento for 3 years. Otherwise, there wasn’t a reason for the A’s to do it.
Anyway, congrats to Stripling on retirement.
Maybe the A’s needed to take on more payroll to make the minimum for the shared revenues.
Disagree. Stripling has had his moments and at the time the A’s were desperate for starters.
Stripys moments were great for opposing teams in 2023 when he was a Giant, that’s true. He had a knack for throwing middle/middle pitches 87 MPH that would get pounded. He was really good at throwing BP for the other team.
Ross didn’t register a WIN during 2023. He appeared in 22 games; the Giants lost 18 of those 22 games. An argument could be made that Ross single handedly cost the Giants a playoff spot that year.
Pete, please let this one go. He was AWFUL that year.
I agree with everything you said. The one thing I did appreciate from him with the Giants was he admitted he sucked. Wasn’t a big admission because most fans watched him suck. That said he was a class act and great teammate. At least his 2 years with the Giants. So I wish him a great retirement and appreciate his candor. Good luck Ross.
In his major league debut, against the San Francisco Giants on April 8, 2016, Stripling pitched 7+1⁄3 innings without giving up a hit but was removed for a relief pitcher after throwing 100 pitches. He struck out four and walked four, one of whom scored against the relief pitcher.
On August 17, 2022, Stripling had a perfect game going against the Baltimore Orioles, before it was broken up on his first pitch of the seventh inning. Stripling sure had his moments of greatness.
I was at that game in San Francisco, Dave Roberts took him out while he was pitching a no hitter in his major league Debut. The Giants jumped on the relievers in the 8th & won on a walk off in the ninth. Farewell ” Chicken Strip” (his name on the players jerseys). A super intelligent guy, who had a hilarious podcast & who will undoubtedly be a success the rest of his life.
Stripling is also a licensed stockbroker so he is smarter than the average bear. I could easily see him getting pro athlete clients if he expands his financial services advisor role.
I was at that game, too. Roberts pulled him after one walk in the 8th. I bought a Crawford jersey the day after the walk-off.
Has it really been 13 years that’s crazy
I think Chicken Strip was referring to entire professional career, including his time in the LAD farm system.
he was. He played part of 9 big league seasons.
He felt like the type of guy who could pitch into middle age since he did not throw super hard and just pitched and controlled well. But i get wanting to play long enough to have enough to never have to worry about money ever again and then gauging your health.
Lifetime medical for him and his family after 10 years and guaranteed salary IIRC, so mission accomplished. Well done, Stripper.
AI is reporting the following:
Ross Stripling has 8.115 years of service time in Major League Baseball. He retired from professional baseball on May 5, 2025. His last team was the Kansas City Royals.
i think at 8 years you get your free pass to all regular season games card…. Those last 2 years would have been him bouncing up and down to AAA and hustling to find a roster spot for likely 3-5 years to get the 2 years of service time.
The reality is he made 35ish million- so assume he got 20 million of that, he is fine even without working the rest of his life. Maybe his wife goes back to teaching (now that the family is not traveling all the time) and there is his medical (if they care about that at all)
“AI is reporting…”
AI models don’t report facts, they just try to construct likely reaponses to prompt. It gave the right answer in this case, but it’s very easy to actually verify this using a site like fangraphs. Please don’t use AI models as sources of truth.
By my calculation he’s at roughly 9 years of service time. I’m surprised he didn’t try to hang on for 1 more year of service and the 10 year retirement. I’m guessing all offers were either minor league or he’s injured.
He’s a financial advisor and a founding partner at a wealth management firm. A major league salary/pension isn’t anything to scoff at, but he certainly won’t be hurting for money now that he’s hung it up!
He’s got 35m in the bag and had a nice career. Enjoy retirement and your next chapter of life congratulations Ross!
I don’t feel this guy ever got a fair break. He was always the second man up but was pretty solid for some years if I recall.
my thoughts exactly. not a flashy guy at all, but a career ERA of 4.17 (98 ERA+) he should have been a solid 3rd or 4th SP and not having to worry about a spot in the rotation at all times.
Interesting on the link he is wearing a KC hat without playing for KC
MLBTR writers for you
Lol what? Has nothing to do with MLBTR, he pitched for the Royals in Spring Training, that’s his photo. Datashark agree interesting though – that’s like if Manny Ramirez’s BRef photo was with the Rays! Although I guess he did log 5 real games with them
Mostly joking buddy but I honestly didn’t know the context
I remember booting up MLB 2K12 and seeing Manny Ramirez in the free agent players list with an A’s hat.
I’m not your buddy, guy
I’m not your guy, friend
But I do enjoy listening to Buddy Guy, bro
Bruh, Buddy Guy is my boy, and these bros need to break bread and bro-hug it out.
I hear ya dude
Almost Angel legend
The definition of a swingman throughout his career. Pitched well in both starting and pen roles. He was never the best pitcher on his team, but was pretty much always solid.
Enjoy retirement Chicken Strip!
Best of luck in retirement. Was a big fan of his during his time with the Jays.
Nice statement. Stripling speaks well and has good grey matter. Hope he finds a baseball media gig.
The goal of every major leaguer is to make at least one All-Star team. “Strip” had a nice first half, pitched the 10th inning, and lost the 2018 All Star Game in Baltimore.
The hall of fame awaits.
He always came across as humble good family type guy. I always love to see a player get away from the game with money that sets their family up. Wish Chicken Strip and his family nothing but good health and happiness
Enjoyed your time with the Giants! Best of luck to your new life outside of baseball. ⚾️ Though I can tell you baseball always sticks with us. Even the Craig family can attest to that! #HummBaby.
I remember being quite disappointed when FZ signed him (for two years, no less) because I viewed him as, at best, a very marginal 5th starter. He was coming off of what was, for him, something of a late career, successful season with the Jays, that I saw as a one-off, a real outlier.
I was amazed but delighted when the A’s took the second year of that dumb deal off of FZ’s hands. Will always be grateful for that, A’-Sacs, thank you. 🙂
Ah, I wish he would have survived the trade deadline in 2020 and gotten a ring with LA. Still a classy thing that Roberts mentioned him in his victory speech of the top of his head.
I enjoyed listening to his podcast back in the day and especially after the Astros report came out. Interesting stuff from him and his guests.
The article says they gave him a ring.
Guess Ross won’t be there for you now
😂