The Royals granted Stripling's request to be released Sunday.
The right-hander signed a minor-league contract a month ago but surrendered 14 earned runs over eight innings during spring training. Stripling had a 6.01 ERA in 22 appearances with the A's last year and will likely have to settle for another minor-league deal elsewhere.
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Royals' Ross Stripling: Inks MiLB deal with KC
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Stripling agreed to a minor-league contract with the Royals on Wednesday that includes an invitation to spring training.
Stripling has been a successful swingman at times throughout his career but had to settle for a minor-league deal after posting a 6.01 ERA across 85.1 innings with the Athletics last season. While the veteran right-hander will compete for a place on the Opening Day roster, he should be considered more likely to begin the campaign at Triple-A Omaha.
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Athletics' Ross Stripling: Returns in relief Saturday
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Stripling fired a scoreless sixth inning in an extra-inning loss to the Mariners on Saturday, issuing a walk.
The veteran right-hander had been activated from the injured list Friday, and manager Mark Kotsay opted to have him return in a relief capacity. Stripling has struggled to a 2-11 record, 6.01 ERA and 1.54 WHIP across 22 appearances (14 starts) in his debut Athletics campaign, making him a dubious candidate for a return to the team in free agency this offseason.
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Athletics' Ross Stripling: Returns from injured list
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The Athletics reinstated Stripling (back) from the 15-day injured list Friday.
Stripling landed on the injured list Sept. 11 due to a lower-back strain and began facing live hitters again as recently as Tuesday. Now that he's healthy, he'll presumably take on a low-leverage role out of the bullpen for the final three games of the season. Meanwhile, Brady Basso will head to the Arizona Complex League in order to free up a roster spot.
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Athletics' Ross Stripling: Throws live batting practice
Rotowire
Stripling (back) completed a live batting practice session Tuesday, MLB.com reports.
The veteran right-hander presumably got through the session without any issues, and it's the third box he's checked off within the last week after also completing bullpen sessions last Wednesday and Saturday. Assuming Stripling doesn't have any residual effects from Tuesday's activity in coming days, he remains a candidate to be activated at some point during the final series of the season that begins Friday against the Mariners at T-Mobile Park.
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Athletics' Ross Stripling: Another successful bullpen Saturday
Rotowire
Stripling (back) emerged from Saturday's bullpen session healthy and is slated to face live hitters Tuesday, MLB.com reports.
The right-hander completed two bullpen sessions over a four-day span without any apparent setbacks, paving the way for the live batting practice Tuesday. If that step is similarly successful, Stripling is expected to be activated at some point before the beginning of the final series of the season Friday against the Mariners in Seattle.
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Athletics' Ross Stripling: Next bullpen session set
Rotowire
Stripling (back) came out of his bullpen session Wednesday feeling good and will thrown another one Saturday, MLB.com reports.
The veteran right-hander was able to throw mostly fastballs while occasionally mixing in each of his offspeed pitches during Wednesday's session, which consisted of 25 pitches overall. If things go smoothly Saturday, Stripling could be activated from the IL when first eligible Tuesday.
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Athletics' Ross Stripling: Bullpen session on tap
Rotowire
Stripling (back) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Wednesday and another several days after, MLB.com reports.
The veteran right-hander has been on the injured list since last Tuesday with a lower-back strain, and Wednesday will mark the first time he'll attempt to do any throwing since that point. If all goes well with the session, Stripling is slated to repeat the process at some point after the Athletics begin a homestand Friday against the Yankees. Despite the recent developments, a return for Stripling before the end of the regular season isn't a certainty in the view of manager Mark Kotsay, per the Associated Press.
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Athletics' Ross Stripling: Impressive in long relief Friday
Rotowire
Stripling fired 4.1 scoreless relief innings in a loss to the Brewers on Friday, allowing two hits and two walks while recording four strikeouts. He did not factor into the decision.
Starter JP Sears was atypically ineffective and chased after 3.2 innings and 90 pitches, so Stripling was called on to deploy his multi-inning capabilities and ideally spare some of his bullpen mates. The one-time starter came through as hoped, getting 13 outs on 68 pitches to serve as a bridge to the ninth inning. The outing was only Stripling's second since officially being moved to the bullpen, with his first relief appearance having come nine days prior against the Mets.
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Athletics' Ross Stripling: Moved to bullpen
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Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said Tuesday that Stripling is being shifted to a long-relief role, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Stripling has a 5.72 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 40:16 K:BB across 72.1 innings (14 starts) this season, and he'll be removed from the rotation in favor of Oakland's younger arms. He didn't have much fantasy utility as a starter given the lack of effectiveness, and that's not likely to change in a long-relief role.
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Athletics' Ross Stripling: Dealt 11th loss
Rotowire
Stripling (2-11) allowed four runs on five hits and a walk while striking out two in 5.1 innings during Tuesday's loss to the White Sox.
Stripling kept the White Sox off the board through three innings before Andrew Benintendi got a hold of one for a two-run blast in the fourth. That was enough to put Stripling in line for the loss, as the Athletics only mustered up a single run on the night. Stripling's outing carried into the sixth, but he was only able to record one out before being pulled after giving up a walk and two singles, which led to another run. He was charged with a fourth run before the inning concluded. Stripling's 11 losses are tied for third most in baseball and his 5.72 ERA would be the second-worst mark among all qualified pitchers if he had enough innings under his belt. The 34-year-old will look for a bounce-back outing his next time out against the Mets next week.
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Athletics' Ross Stripling: Takes tough loss
Rotowire
Stripling took the loss against the Giants on Wednesday, allowing one run on four hits and one walk over 5.2 innings. He did not record a strikeout.
Stripling pitched well throughout the contest, allowing the leadoff man to reach just one time over his 5.2 innings of work while surrendering only two-extra base hits. The only run he allowed on the night came on a sacrifice fly in the fifth. However, the veteran right-hander would still go on to take his fifth loss in his last six starts (dating back to May 7) due to Oakland's offense being shut out by Logan Webb. Stripling also failed to record a strikeout for the first time this season and finished the month of July with a 4.76 ERA and a 3:3 K:BB over two starts.
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Athletics' Ross Stripling: Picks up win in return
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Stripling (2-9) picked up the win over the Angels on Thursday, allowing five runs on six hits and two walks over 5.2 innings while striking out three.
Stripling ran into trouble in the second inning after allowing four consecutive batters to reach base with one out. He would end up being tagged for five runs in the frame but recovered nicely, retiring 13 of the next 15 batters he faced as the Oakland offense roared back in an eventual 6-5 victory. The right-hander has surrendered at least four runs in each of his last three starts dating back to May 18, and Stripling had also lost each of his previous four starts prior to Thursday's win.
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Athletics' Ross Stripling: Activated ahead of start
Rotowire
The Athletics activated Stripling (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to start against the Angels on Thursday.
Stripling will rejoin the rotation Thursday in Anaheim after missing two months with a flexor strain. He had a maximum pitch count of 56 in his three rehab outings, so the veteran right-hander will be limited from a workload standpoint versus the Halos.
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Athletics' Ross Stripling: Returning from IL to start Thursday
Rotowire
Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said Stripling (elbow) will be activated from the 15-day injured list to start Thursday's game in Anaheim, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Stripling has been sidelined since late May with a flexor strain but is ready to rejoin the big club after making three rehab starts. The veteran right-hander had a maximum pitch count of 56 across the three outings, so he'll probably be a bit limited from a workload perspective against the Angels.
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Athletics' Ross Stripling: Set for bullpen session
Rotowire
Stripling (elbow) will throw a bullpen session Monday or Tuesday, Janie McCauley of the Associated Press reports.
The right-hander completed five innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday, building up to 52 pitches. Stripling has already made three rehab starts but may need one more appearance to build up his pitch count before he returns from the 15-day injured list and slides back into the Oakland rotation.
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Athletics' Ross Stripling: Works five innings in rehab start
Rotowire
Stripling (elbow) gave up two earned runs on eight hits and no walks over five innings in his rehab start Friday with Triple-A Las Vegas. He didn't strike out a batter.
Stripling worked efficiently in the third start of his rehab assignment, needing just 52 pitches (37 strikes) to record 15 outs. Unless Stripling padded his pitch count in a bullpen session after exiting Friday's game, the Athletics will likely want to see Stripling reach around 70 pitches in another rehab start before bringing him back from the 15-day injured list. Stripling has been on the shelf since May 25 with a right elbow flexor strain.
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Athletics' Ross Stripling: Ups volume in second rehab start
Rotowire
Stripling (elbow) made a rehab start Sunday with Triple-A Las Vegas, allowing three earned runs on five hits and one walk over three innings. He struck out one.
Stripling was originally slated to remain with Single-A Stockton for his second rehab start after a rocky start to his rehab assignment Tuesday, but those plans were apparently altered in recent days. The right-hander worked up to 56 pitches in Sunday's start, locating 37 of his offerings for strikes. The three runs charged to Stripling came off a pair of singles and a sacrifice fly, so he did a serviceable job of limiting hard contact. Stripling could make at least one more rehab start coming out of the All-Star break in order to further build up his pitch count before returning from the 15-day injured list.
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Athletics' Ross Stripling: Inconsistent in rehab debut
Rotowire
Stripling (elbow) started Single-A Stockton's game against Rancho Cucamonga on Tuesday, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits and one walk over two-thirds of an inning. He struck out one.
Stripling was slated to throw about 35 pitches, but he was pulled after 24 offerings. The right-hander allowed a solo home run and saw another runner cross the plate on a fielding error, making for an all-around eventful rehab debut. Stripling is still likely to make his next rehab start at Triple-A Las Vegas on Sunday, unless the outcome of Tuesday's appearance alters that plan in some form.
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Athletics' Ross Stripling: Completes live BP session Wednesday
Rotowire
Stripling (elbow) pitched a live batting practice session before Wednesday's game against the Angels, the Associated Press reports.
Stripling's session seemed to have gone off without any issues, and he's now thrown a pair of bullpen sessions and Wednesday's batting practice in the last eight days. Manager Mark Kotsay previously indicated Stripling would likely begin a rehab assignment if he didn't experience any setbacks while facing live hitters, so the veteran right-hander could be heading to Triple-A Las Vegas to begin that phase of his recovery in the coming days.
