Overview
- The Texas Rangers signed right-hander Joe Ross to a minor-league contract on Friday, and assigned him to Triple-A Round Rock for organizational pitching depth.
- Ross was released by the Arizona Diamondbacks after a brief major-league stint this season that ended with a designation for assignment following 3 2/3 innings.
- At Triple-A Reno he threw 21 innings in mostly long relief and posted a 4.29 ERA with a low 14% strikeout rate, a 5.8% walk rate, and a strong ground-ball profile in a hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.
- A 2019 World Series winner, Ross has a nine-season MLB résumé that includes a 4.37 career ERA, two Tommy John surgeries, an elbow bone-spur procedure, and multiple IL stints that have limited long-term commitment from clubs.
- The deal is a low-risk depth move for the Rangers that could matter if injuries or poor performance affect their rotation or bullpen because Ross can provide multi-inning relief now or be stretched into a starting role later.