Feb. 19: A source tells MLBTR that there is no current agreement between the Reds and Ross. While the two sides have talked, Ross is continuing to throw for other clubs as he seeks a landing spot for the 2019 campaign.
Feb. 16: The Reds have reportedly signed reliever Robbie Ross to a minor league deal.
Ross, 29, held down a regular spot in the Ranger and Red Sox bullpens from 2012-16, but has missed much of the last two seasons with elbow and back problems. In 2016, his last full season of work, Ross turned in an excellent 3.25 ERA/3.27 FIP (0.7 fWAR) on the back of career-best (9.11 K/9, 0.33 HR/9) peripherals. The lefty’s slider, always a cut above, checked in as the 9th best version of the pitch among all qualified relievers that year, per FanGraphs.
Though his bat-missing acumen against opposite-side hitters has largely prevented a breakaway from the journeyman pack, Ross still sports a respectable .319 career wOBA against vs. righties, and shouldn’t be confined to a specialist-only role. The veteran will hope to regain the 2.4 MPH he lost (down to a career-low 91.8 average MPH) on his fastball after injuries took hold.
Ross will look to join an in-flux Reds bullpen spearheaded by a dominant Raisel Iglesias and otherwise peppered with mostly-fungible names. Zach Duke and Amir Garrett carry the unit’s southpaw flag at current, though a pain-free Ross may well squeeze himself in.
putting the fun back into fungible…
Nice
I look for Dick/Nick will add more players before ST ends
Me throw Rock.
ooga booga
comment of the day. we got to point out the idiots such as above, and like raging idiots like simchifan, themed, cards81, ruff kuntry. i want to include xabial….but he isnt quite as terrible as these clowns.
Yo! Stoked to see Robbie getting a shot to get back into the Bigs. Dude has a good great attitude. Hope he he can stay healthy and pain free. Best of luck Robbie! #guessinghedoesnotchecktraderumors
Geez… I even wrote this while sober
KC will step in to grab him….
back to texas