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The Padres have signed Tyson Ross to a minor-league contract, as first reported by our MLB Insider Chris Cotillo.
Ross comes back to San Diego after having pitched with the club from 2013-16. The 30-year-old right-hander was non-tendered in December 2016 and spent most of 2017 with the Rangers before being released in September.
Ross had a tough time in Texas, going 3-3 with a 7.71 ERA in 12 appearances, 10 of which were starts. In his four seasons with the Padres, Ross went 26-35, but posted a 3.16 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 9.2 strikeouts per nine innings and a 6.4 WAR. His best season was in 2014, when he was an All-Star during a season in which he posted a 2.81 ERA and had 195 strikeouts in 195 2⁄3 innings pitched across 31 starts. Ross also led the National League in starts in 2015 with 31 and had a career-best 212 Ks that season. but he also had the most walks (84) and wild pitches (14)
However, Ross missed the entire 2016 season after having right shoulder inflammation for most of the year, then deciding to opt for surgery to deal with symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome.
Cotillo says Ross “will likely get a shot to compete for a rotation spot” in spring training. The Padres’ current rotation is Clayton Richard, Luis Perdomo, Dinelson Lamet, Colin Rea and Robbie Erlin.