Ross Stripling Exercises Player Option to Return to Giants in 2024
Right-handed pitcher Ross Stripling has decided to exercise his player option worth $12.5 million for the 2024 season, according to information shared by Danny Emerman of KNBR.com. Stripling, who turned 34 this month, will be returning to the San Francisco Giants instead of exploring the open market.
Stripling’s decision does not come as a surprise, as he had previously announced in September that he intended to exercise his player option. Despite a challenging season with the Giants, Stripling has chosen to remain with the team.
After signing a two-year contract worth $25 million with the Giants in the previous winter, Stripling struggled to find his form in San Francisco this year. He only pitched 89 innings in 22 appearances, 11 of which were starts. Alongside his lowest full-season innings total since 2017, Stripling also faced difficulty in generating results on the field.
Compared to his performance in 2022, Stripling experienced a dip in his strikeout rate, which fell from 20.7% to 18.4% this year. Additionally, his walk rate increased from 3.7% to 4.2%. However, the most significant issue for Stripling in 2023 was his struggle with home runs. Despite playing at Oracle Park, which is known for suppressing home runs, 22% of fly balls hit against Stripling ended up leaving the yard. This figure was the second highest in the league, exceeded only by Phillies pitcher Christopher Sanchez’s 22.2% rate. Consequently, Stripling recorded a 5.36 ERA and a 5.21 FIP, both of which were the worst of his career over a full season.
Nevertheless, there is reason to believe that Stripling can bounce back next year. The pitcher was hampered by back issues, which led to two separate stints on the injured list and potentially hampered his performance throughout the season. Improved health, coupled with better luck in terms of home runs, could significantly enhance Stripling’s effectiveness in 2024. Advanced metrics also indicated some positivity for Stripling, as his 3.98 xFIP was 9% better than the league average, while his 4.13 SIERA further reflected his potential.
While Stripling’s decision has been made, the Giants are still waiting for option choices from left-hander Sean Manaea and outfielder Michael Conforto, both of whom have the option to explore free agency rather than completing the final year of their two-year contracts with the team. Additionally, the Giants must consider the situation of veteran right-hander Alex Cobb, whose option may be complicated due to recent hip surgery that could keep him out of action until the start of the 2024 season.
The Giants will be monitoring these decisions closely as they shape their roster for the upcoming season.