Ross Stripling sees himself on 2024 SF Giants: 'I haven't pitched well enough to opt out'
After throwing a 55-pitch sim game on Monday afternoon, SF Giants right-handed pitcher Ross Stripling spoke with reporters. Stripling has been on the injured list with a back injury since August. Despite voicing his frustration with the organization's communication with him to Evan Webeck of the Bay Area News Group earlier this week, Stripling reiterated on Monday that he sees himself as a part of the team beyond this season. It's particularly noteworthy since Stripling could opt out of his two-year, $25 million deal following the season.
SF Giants RHP Ross Stripling pitches at Oracle Park on August 11, 2023.
John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
"In my head, it seems obvious that I haven't pitched well enough to opt out," Stripling told reporters following a sim game on Monday. "I think if I could have gotten healthy and had a good September, it might have been in the realm, but really in my head now I am a 2024 Giant and ready to work with these guys over the offseason to figure some stuff out and get better."
"I haven't talked to my agent or anything like that," Stripling added. "I don't imagine he'd tell me anything different, but I'm 100% committed to being a Giant next year and to do better than I have this year for sure."
Stripling told Webeck that he's essentially the 29th man on the Giants' 28-man roster, which has left him in limbo. He said he felt like he was on the "phantom IL." Stripling was also frustrated by the team canceling opportunities for him to pitch in minor league rehab games because of injury concerns that ultimately did not lead him to be activated. Stripling did walk back those comments somewhat on Monday, telling Bay Area News Group's Curtis Pashelka that he regretted using that term and was simply expressing his frustration, not saying he was more deserving of an opportunity than other players on the team.
Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi told Susan Slusser of The San Francisco Chronicle that the team met with Stripling last week and apologized to him for insufficiently communicating with him.
It might have been easier for the Giants to solve this roster crunch if Keaton Winn (Giants Top 9 Prospect) had struggled in his start against the Rockies on Sunday. Instead he overpowered the Rockies in a 5-3 win. To Stripling, he proved he deserves a spot on the pitching staff.
"It certainly shows that he belongs here. Deserves to pitch here. He was throwing mid to high 90s with a very good splitter and keeping them off balance, and obviously deserves to pitch in the big leagues."
The Giants told Stripling that he was still at least few days away from returning to the active roster, which gave him the go-ahead to take on a heavier workload in Monday's simulated game. He faced off against Michael Conforto and Paul DeJong.
Giants manager Gabe Kapler caught the tail end of Stripling's simulated game and thought he looked good. However, he remained noncomittal about Stripling's timeline to return to the active roster.
"I thought Strip's ball was coming out really well, actually," Kapler told reporters. "In particular, I thought he did a nice job of running his slider in on Conforto a couple of times... Strip's obviously starting to get built up. He's going to need a couple of days after this and we'll put a plan together accordingly."
The SF Giants have a small chance to sneak into the postseason with a strong finish to the season. However, many fans have already begun looking ahead to 2024. While nothing is finalized yet, veteran righty Ross Stripling told reporters on Monday that he sees himself as a part of that equation.
