February 18th, 2020 at 9:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka It was a tumultuous time for 30-year-old right-hander Ross Stripling. One minute he was a Dodger, the next minute he wasn’t, and then several hours later he was again.
According to social media, the Bluebell, PA native and Dodgers fifth-round draft pick in 2012 out of Texas A&M and 27-year-old outfielder Joc Pederson had been traded to the Angels of Anaheim in exchange for soon-to-be (on February 26) 23-year-old middle infielder Luis Rengifo and a prospect.
…according to social media.
Just how tumultuous? Stripling said that he actually received phone calls and text messages from Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, from Dodgers ownership, and from several teammates wishing him luck with the Angels.
So tumultuous that Stripling and his wife Shelby began looking for a place to live near Angel Stadium in Anaheim, CA.
But then, just as quickly as the trade rumor had started – according to social media – it ended and, as of this writing, at least, Stripling and Pederson are still Dodgers and presumably will be on Opening Day 2020.
Presumably.
“Everything feels great,” Stripling said on Sunday morning prior to his second official bullpen session of the spring. “We got three extra weeks of an offseason – didn’t want it – and choose to use that to your advantage, get a little extra rest and get the body in the right place, and everything feels good.”
Did the hard-throwing 6′-2″/220-pound right-hander affectionally known as ‘Chicken Strip’ add any new weapons to his already (very) effective pitching arsenal this offseason?
“Spring training’s always a time to experiment with different stuff, try different grips, try different change-up grips, maybe your slider grip, stuff like that, but old faithful is always my curveball,” Stripling answered. “So basically you throw your curveball, make sure she’s still there and working for you, and then I’m always toying with other stuff. But as fas as major mechanical adjustments and stuff like that, nothing on the horizon for me.”
As most Dodger fans know, Stripling spent considerable time on the injured list late last season due to neck and biceps irritation. As a result, he lost his spot in the Dodgers starting rotation to the likes of Julio Urias, Caleb Ferguson, and up-and-coming rising star Dustin May. As a result of that, when Stripling finally returned to action when rosters were expanded last September, he found himself in the Dodgers bullpen; a position that he did well at but not really where he wanted to be. And while he still very much wants to again be in the Dodgers starting rotation in 2020, so, too, do those aforementioned others; this in addition to five-time All-Star and former AL Cy Young award winner David Price, whom the Dodgers recently acquired from the Boston Red Sox along with superstar outfielder Mookie Betts.
Knowing what it’s going to take to (hopefully) break camp in the starting five, Stripling knows exactly what he has to do, of which the single most important thing is staying healthy.
“I’m 30 years old now, so I’m about as strong as I’m going to get, so now it’s really about maintaining health, mobility, stuff like that,” Stripling said. “So I do as much physical therapy type stuff in the offseason as I do lifting.
“And now you get with our trainers who I think are some of the best around and really focus on what we need to do to stay healthy … you do all your measurements as far as like every joint, mobility, all that kind of stuff, read it and tell you ‘Hey we need to work on this kind of stuff,’ and all that,” Stripling continued. “There’s always some minor adjustments you make when you get here, once they get their hands on you and just say ‘Hey let’s focus on getting your hips moving, getting your body moving, getting your shoulder moving,’ that kind of stuff, but nothing serious. I’m definitely on path with where I want to be. Feeling good.”
…and it showed.
During his bullpen session a short while later, Stripling indeed looked very sharp. Whether it is – and remains – sharp enough to be among the Dodgers’ top five remains to be seen.
…but you’ve definitely got to like his chances.
Play Ball!
* * * * * *
Posted in 
I don’t know why but I like reading about someone who is almost traded and wasn’t or about someone who is traded back to the Dodgers. I don’t know why this is, but for some reason, it is.
That was one of the strangest non-trades I can recall. Angels owner, Moreno, admitted that he called off the deal that appeared to be decidedly one-sided in favor of the Angels for 2020; a decision I believe he will come to regret sooner than later.
I’m reminded about all those articles you read titled “ the best trades to have never been made”. I’m delighted the Dodgers still have Stripling and Peterson. I’m also wondering in what world Arte Moreno is going to get a better deal than the one he scotched. What a schmuck.
They were picking up Pederson and Stripling for very little in return. Then for Moreno to come out and say there is more to it than what the fans are aware but won’t tell them what it was, doesn’t do much to help the public’s perception of him.
It’s undoubtedly awkward to learn you’ve been traded then not, but would either player prefer the trade to stand? Getting trading will always be taken personally; “the team didn’t want me” or” the other team did” but it’s part of the business. Do teams have their feelings hurt when a player leaves them in free agency? Part of the game, a game they are well paid to play.
I agree with all the above sentiments about “the best trades to have never been made”. Either Stripling or Pederson might be a big help this year in winning the commissioner’s “piece of metal”.
However, the Dodgers have an enviable problem, a stacked deep roster. Friedman still has work to do. I just hope he can maximize the return for the players that ultimately get traded.