The Giants keep on stockpiling veteran pitchers, as they agreed to a two-year, $25 million deal with 33-year-old right-hander Ross Stripling on Tuesday. The Giants announced the agreement Tuesday after the initial report from ESPN’s Jeff Passan, who reported that Stripling can opt out after the 2023 season.
Sound familiar? It’s a similar contract structure to Sean Manaea’s two-year deal reported Monday, as the southpaw also holds a $12.5 million player option for 2024. The Giants are yet to announce Manaea’s signing officially as of late Tuesday morning, but the former A’s left-hander texted the San Francisco Chronicle’s Susan Slusser on Monday, "I'm very excited to get back to the Bay! I've always loved it up there."
The Stripling signing gives the Giants rotation six starters for now – along with Manaea, Alex Wood, Alex Cobb, Anthony DeSclafani and Logan Webb. Except for Webb, the other five guys are each on two- or three-year deals making between $10 million and $12.5 million per season. Top prospect Kyle Harrison is also expected to break through to the big leagues this season after spending most of his 2022 in the Double-A ranks. That’s a lot of pitching, even with built-in expectations of injuries.
Despite the numbers, Slusser tweeted Tuesday morning that San Francisco remains interested in left-hander Carlos Rodón, who reportedly is seeking a seven-year contract. A commitment that long would buck a major trend from Farhan Zaidi and Co., who clearly prefer short-term deals.
Stripling put up solid numbers with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2021, making 32 appearances (24 starts) with a career-high 134 innings pitched and career-low 3.01 ERA. The righty spent his first four-plus seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, making his lone All-Star team appearance in 2018. Stripling is comfortable coming out of the bullpen, as 100 of his 204 career outings have come as a reliever, so Gabe Kapler and his staff can get creative with the veteran. No matter his role, he'll be getting paid like a starting pitcher.
It’s hard to imagine San Francisco having seven starters on the payroll come Opening Day, so Giants fans may have to brace with the reality that no big star is coming to The Bay. Shortstop Carlos Correa remains a target, as the Giants and Twins reportedly are his final two suitors in the running.
