The Athletics have reached an agreement with their local rival to bolster their pitching depth. They have acquired right-handed pitcher Ross Stripling from the Giants in exchange for outfielder Jonah Cox.
Stripling, who is 34 years old, had a challenging season in 2023, posting a 5.36 ERA over 89 innings. He also had to deal with back injuries that landed him on the injured list twice. Despite these setbacks, Stripling fulfilled various roles for the Giants, including starting games and serving as a bulk reliever. He exercised his $12.5 million player option in November. As part of the deal, the Giants are providing cash considerations. Stripling will reunite with his former Giants teammate, Alex Wood, who recently signed a one-year contract with the Athletics.
Cox, a sixth-round pick in the 2023 draft from Oral Roberts, played in 28 games for Low-A Stockton. He had a batting average of .264, with an on-base percentage of .325 and a slugging percentage of .373. He also showcased his speed on the base paths, successfully stealing 14 bases out of 16 attempts.
Ross Stripling, who is 34 years old, had a challenging season in 2023, allowing 20 home runs in 22 appearances. Despite his back issues, his command and velocity remained relatively unaffected, and he showed improvement as the season progressed. Over the past three seasons, Stripling has gradually decreased his usage of a low-90s four-seam fastball, relying more on his slider and sinker in 2023. The Athletics, known for their cautious approach to salary, find Stripling’s versatility appealing. With left-handed pitcher JP Sears and right-handed pitcher Paul Blackburn as the only guaranteed starting options, Oakland has plenty of innings to fill in their rotation. The Athletics hope to unlock the version of Stripling who was a valuable contributor for the Dodgers and Blue Jays. One positive indicator for Stripling heading into the 2024 season is his performance split between the first and second halves of 2023. In the first half, he had a 6.37 ERA and a 5.96 FIP, while in the second half, he improved to a 4.50 ERA and a 4.57 FIP. In his last three outings in September, his fastball velocity reached 93 mph or higher, slightly above his season average of 92.5 mph.
Jonah Cox, 22 years old, had an outstanding season in the Summit League, hitting .412 and earning the conference’s player of the year award in 2023. He also received recognition as a third-team All-American from Baseball America. Cox is an athletic outfielder with good speed and agility. He has consistently made contact throughout his amateur career, although there are doubts about his ability to generate power due to his swing path. He will need to work on his aggressive approach at the plate. However, Cox’s contact skills are impressive, as evidenced by his 47-game hit streak at Oral Roberts. While he may not possess the strongest arm, his range and speed make him a viable option in center field. Although primarily an outfielder, Cox has experience playing second base in his amateur days. He is projected to be a potential fourth outfielder for the Athletics, with the potential to exceed expectations if he can tap into more power. Cox was ranked as Oakland’s 29th best prospect in the preseason.