SF Giants trade RHP Ross Stripling to Athletics for outfielder prospect

The SF Giants have traded veteran pitcher Ross Stripling and cash considerations to the Oakland Athletics for outfielder prospect Jonah Cox.

The SF Giants agreed to a trade on Friday with the Oakland Athletics that sends right-handed pitcher Ross Stripling and cash considerations to their rivals across the Bay for outfielder prospect Jonah Cox. Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reported that the Giants sent $3.25 million to Oakland in the deal. The deal is a bit surprising given the current status of the Giants roster, but seems to clear the way for other potential moves.

SF Giants SP Ross Stripling pitches against the A's on August 5, 2023 / Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

The A's drafted Cox in the sixth round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of Oral Roberts. Cox demolished Rookie League competition in his debut and was promptly promoted to full-season ball. He hit .264/.325/.373 with two doubles, two triples, two home runs, and 14 stolen bases (16 attempts) in 120 plate appearances with Single-A Stockton.

Cox immediately becomes one of the best athletes in the Giants system. A plus-plus runner with excellent contact skills, Cox has the tools to become a dynamic lead-off hitting center fielder if it all comes together. Granted, without power that is expected to play as he advances through the minor leagues, Cox most likely profiles as a contact/speed-oriented fourth or fifth outfielder.

The trade also marks the end of Stripling's disappointing tenure with the Giants. After dealing Mitch Haniger in January, the Giants have now traded two of their most prominent signings of the 2023 offseason in contract dump deals roughly a year later. Stripling inked a two-year, $25 million contract with San Francisco last offseason that included a player opt-out after one year. However, Stripling was plagued by a back injury throughout the 2023 season, which limited his availability and seemed to prompt on-field struggles.

Despite starting the season as a member of the rotation, Stripling was quickly relegated to a long relief role and bounced between those two roles for the remainder of the year. Stripling did flash some consistency in August, but ultimately finished the season with 70 strikeouts, 16 walks, 20 home runs allowed, and a 5.36 ERA in 89 innings pitched (22 appearances). Given his struggles, Stripling passed on opting out of his contract.

While he received an All-Star selection in 2018, Stripling has never been considered an elite MLB pitcher. Still, he has flashed excellent versatility and been effective as a traditional starter, swingman, and long reliever throughout his career with the Dodgers and Blue Jays. Given the A's talent-deficient roster, Stripling should receive an opportunity to reestablish himself as a starter in 2024.

Even with Stripling's struggles, the move seems to create an obvious need in the starting rotation. With Alex Cobb and Robbie Ray both sidelined beyond Opening Day as they work their way back from surgeries, ace Logan Webb is the only remaining Giants starter who has any big-league track record. The team has several impressive young arms, led by Kyle Harrison and Keaton Winn, but it's hard to imagine president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi wanting to rely on such a young rotation for the first several weeks of the season.

The Giants were already well below MLB's luxury tax threshold, especially at the levels to which teams would face consequences that go beyond simple fines. Nevertheless, the deal clears up $9 million of payroll space that presumably will be reinvested in the roster.

A Ross Stripling trade could be setting the stage for San Francisco to make a late-offseason run at a top remaining free-agent starter, like Blake Snell or Jordan Montgomery, a clear way to reinvigorate the fanbase. However, the SF Giants could also be eyeing a proven back-end starter like Michael Lorenzen on a cheaper deal that would be mostly offset by offloading Stripling.