The A's were hoping to add a veteran starter who can lead as an example and offer direction to their youthful and untrained pitching staff going into the offseason. With these additions, the club is heading in the right direction.

After several months of waiting, The Oakland A’s announced they acquired right-handed pitcher Ross Stripling and cash from the San Francisco Giants for minor league outfielder Jonah Cox. Additionally, the A's reached an agreement to sign left-handed pitcher Alex Wood, a free agent, to a one-year contract through 2024.

Throughout his career, Wood—who was named an All-Star by the Dodgers in 2017—has shown himself to be a reliable arm by going 76-65 with a 3.74 ERA in 269 games (202 starts) over 11 major league seasons. In 20221-22 he showed his flexibility pitching as a starter and reliever with a combined 269 and 1/3 innings with the Giants. The left hand pitcher made 12 starts and appeared in 29 games while dealing with separate back and hamstring problems. In 97 and 2/3 innings, he posted a 4.33 ERA with 74 strikeouts and 42 walks.

Another Dodgers All-Star—Stripling— is 38-43 with a 3.96 ERA in 226 games, 115 of which are starts, across his eight Major League seasons with the Dodgers (2016–20), Blue Jays (2020–22), and Giants (2023). He finds himself in a similar position to Wood, the 34-year-old spent the previous season with San Francisco, going 0-5 with a 5.36 ERA, an .818 opponents OPS, and 70 strikeouts against just 16 walks in 89 innings pitched.

The A's are hoping that Wood and Stripling's past performances will help add more stability to their inconsistent rotation that tied a Major League record using 24 different starting pitchers in their previous season and whose 738 innings pitched were the fewest of any staff in the American League.

Along with Blackburn and Sears, Wood and Stripling appear to offer Oakland starter rotation spots. This spring, there are seven other pitchers competing for a spot in the rotation.

These A’s are hopeful for progression throughout the 2024 season.