The Padres non-tendered Tyson Ross last week in lieu of paying the injured right-hander an estimated $9.6MM via arbitration in 2017. Now a free agent, Ross is looking for similar money – $9MM to $11MM – on a one-year deal, and that likely doesn’t include incentives, according to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News (Twitter link).
Having already added ex-Padre Andrew Cashner to their rotation this offseason, the Rangers have “done significant homework” on Ross, sources told Grant (via Twitter). A healthy Ross would fill out Texas’ rotation on paper, giving the reigning American League West champions a group consisting of him, Cashner, Martin Perez, Yu Darvish and Cole Hamels.
Like Darvish and Hamels, Ross has front-line ability, having logged a 3.03 ERA, 9.35 K/9, 3.58 BB/9 and 59.2 percent ground-ball rate in 391 2/3 innings from 2014-15. However, the soon-to-be 30-year-old spun only 5 1/3 frames last season – all of which came on opening day – because of shoulder issues. Ross underwent surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome in October, and the expectation is that he’ll recover sometime between February and April.
Along with the Rangers, the Pirates have shown interest in Ross, reports Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Twitter link). While Ross would give the Pirates and ballyhooed pitching coach Ray Searage an interesting reclamation project, his health troubles could make his asking price problematic for the low-payroll franchise. Nevertheless, with Ivan Nova perhaps set to leave Pittsburgh as a free agent and 2016 innings leader Jeff Locke now a Marlin after the Pirates non-tendered him, the club has obvious holes in its rotation. Clearly cognizant of that, the Pirates have checked in on a few other starters – including Doug Fister, Jorge De La Rosa, Derek Holland and the Rays’ Jake Odorizzi – at this week’s winter meetings.
Yes please on Tyson Ross.
Please God no on Derek Holland.
Agreed on both counts. If the Bucs go for a reclamation project, I would like Ross, and I would be more interested in DeLa Rosa than Holland. Odirizzi would be nice but I’m not holding my breath on that one.
Not mentioned, but the Astros will sign this guy. (I have a feeling, anyway!)
According to CBS Sports, Ross won’t pick up a baseball at all until spring training and if everything goes perfectly in his rehab, he won’t pitch in the majors until June. He won’t be FULLY RECOVERED by February to April, he should START a throwing program then and it will take about 4 months after that until he is MLB ready. As of today, he has not picked up a baseball at all yet. So any team signing him will not be filling out their rotation, they will be doing is taking a flyer on a guy that may miss half the season or more. I think he is worth the risk of paying him $3-4 million with significant incentives based on starts made, but to give him $9-11 million guaranteed money is pretty stupid when less than half of all pitchers who have had TOS surgery have returned to form. If the team that knows the most about his health and rehab passed on signing him for about $9 million, why in the world would another team even consider signing him for more than that?
just goes to show how desperate teams are for pitchers. daniels is a sharp GM. he’s done his homework and knows this is a gamble. but if he were totally healthy, he wouldn’t be available. his salary is just the market for pitchers now. it also tells me the Rangers are ready to close the books on derek holland and colby lewis, two popular pitchers but have had a lot of injuries the last few years.
Thanks Dr.Doolittle.
But just because it says “FULLY RECOVERED!” Does not mean he will not pick up a ball before then.
That just means he is completely cleared for 100% of activity.
Get your facts straight before taking down the guy and beating him with Louisville Slugger!
Dr. J. Anagnostis
MD
Are you Dimitri’s Dad?
What Pads Fans said. Lol
Orioles 2 years, 8 million.
The Pirates have no intention of signing any of those guys mentioned. They “checked in on those guys” means they may have spoken to their agent and mentioned the players name. The Pirates operating procedures consist of b. S. ing their fans to try and make us believe they are working hard to put a winning team together. In reality all they care about is the bottom line. I hope Pirates fans have had enough and show their frustrations by staying home during the season!
My question is, why aren’t the Yanks interested in Ross? Not like the rotation is teeming with bonafide studs.
Can someone take on the Pirates as a reclamation project?
For the love of everything Pirates, PLEASE stop looking at reclamation projects and stop-gap or back-up fielders during free agency. If we lose because one of our own young pitchers can’t make the leap to the majors, so be it, but give them a chance. I don’t understand why we can’t enter next season with: Cole, Taillon, Glasnow, Kuhl, & Brault (backed up by Williams, Kingham, & Hutchinson). Same thing with the fielders. Sean Rodriguez had a career year and Matt Joyce was good for four months, but wouldn’t we all rather still see: Elias Diaz, Adam Frazier, Josh Bell, & Austin Meadows over anyone they could bring in from the outside?! Take that money and make McCutchen a Pirate for life.
Well said
what if cutch comes back with 230 and continues his decline. they should still give him 200 million.
Hope Neal is listening! Nicely stated.