Texas Rangers: Could Tyson Ross Become A Reliever in Arlington?

The Texas Rangers signed former All-Star starter Tyson Ross last season as an experiment since he was coming off an injured plagued 2016 campaign. He was unable to find consistency in the rotation, but could a move to the bullpen help?

Signing Tyson Ross didn’t go as planned for the Texas Rangers, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to give up on him entirely. He signed a one-year $6 million deal for 2017 season in an attempt to rebound from injury and re-establish his value.

Ross went 3-3 with a 7.71 ERA in 12 games (10 starts) and was sent into the bullpen late in the season. The biggest problem for Ross was his lack of command. He walked 37 batters in just 49 innings of work in 2017.

Hard to have any success when you’re giving up that many free base runners. Walks have always been a problem for Ross. He walked a league leading 84 batters in 2015, but struck out 212 hitters.

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He was balancing the walks by striking out the opposing batters, but after his injury that might not be a possibility anymore. His strikeout rate went down quite a bit in 2017, but the 30-year-old might still have something left in the tank.

It’s almost impossible to imagine any organization giving Ross job in the starting rotation next season. If anything he’ll be sent to the minors or have to earn a fifth spot during Spring Training, but there’s a chance he could remain on the Rangers roster.

Before his injury in 2016, Ross was a reliable starter with the San Diego Padres. A transition to the bullpen might take some time, but it could help Ross. He’s been around and had success at this level.

Ross likely won’t be an All-Star again in his career, but he has a chance to re-invent himself. If Ross and the Rangers are willing to do that. We’ll see how the off-season pans out, but this could be an interesting option for the Rangers to explore.

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