Kansas City Royals Sign Former A’s Starter
In 2024, the Kansas City Royals made strong moves to improve their rotation, bringing in veteran pitchers Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha, both of whom had excellent seasons and contributed to a 30-win improvement from 2023 to 2024, finishing with 86 wins.
While this week’s signing may not have the same immediate impact on the rotation, the Royals’ addition of Ross Stripling on a minor-league deal is an intriguing move.
Stripling spent the 2024 season with the Oakland Athletics after being traded from the San Francisco Giants in February. He finished the year with a 6.01 ERA in 85.1 innings across 22 appearances (14 starts), but his FIP was solid at 3.89. Despite the high ERA, he posted 1.1 fWAR. Towards the end of last season, Stripling joked with A’s on SI about possibly pitching in minor-league parks for Oakland in 2025, given the challenges the batter’s eye presents to hitters at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, where the A’s are set to play. Now with the Royals, he might find himself in similar minor-league stadiums but with a new team.
This move is a solid depth addition for the Royals, who already have Cole Ragans and Seth Lugo as top starters, with Wacha, Michael Lorenzen, and Kris Bubic expected to round out the rotation.
While Kansas City’s rotation isn’t as young as Oakland’s last year, having a veteran like Stripling, who has experience as both a starter and a reliever, adds value. Additionally, his time spent alongside Clayton Kershaw in the Dodgers’ clubhouse is an asset.
However, Stripling has struggled over the past two seasons, failing to reach 100 innings in either, with an ERA+ of 78 in 2023 and just 66 last season. He’ll need to make adjustments to secure a spot in Kansas City’s rotation.
Currently, the Royals have five starting pitchers on the 40-man roster who aren’t in the major-league rotation, along with five non-roster invitees listed as starting pitchers in camp. This creates plenty of competition for Stripling to earn a spot on the 40-man roster and return to the big leagues with Kansas City.
If he does make the team, he’ll be reunited with former A’s teammate Lucas Erceg, whom the Royals acquired at the trade deadline last season.
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