MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
SURPRISE, Ariz. – The Royals added a veteran pitcher to their Spring Training roster on Wednesday by agreeing to a Minor League deal with Ross Stripling, the team announced.
Stripling, 35, has nine years of MLB experience, appearing in 248 career games. He’s started 129 of them and has made at least a handful of starts each season. He has a career 4.17 ERA and spent last season with the A’s with a 6.01 ERA across 22 appearances (14 starts), but dealt with an elbow strain and a back strain.
The righty began his career well enough with the Dodgers and was an All-Star in 2018. He posted a 3.01 ERA in 134 1/3 innings with Toronto in 2022. But he also had ineffective stints with the Giants and A’s over the last two seasons.
The Royals have been searching for more depth for their pitching staff, and Stripling certainly brings experience to the big league Spring Training clubhouse. He also has experience pitching in relief for contending clubs, so the Royals could rely on that if they need a swingman or long reliever. He pitched in the postseason with the Dodgers in 2016, ‘17 and ‘19 and with the Blue Jays in ‘20, all in relief.
Kansas City now has 66 players in big league camp, including 35 pitchers.