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Detroit Tigers: Why Tyson Ross is worth a flier right now

By Ben Rosener |
ARLINGTON, TX - JUNE 21: Tyson Ross #44 of the Texas Rangers pitches against the Toronto Blue Jays in the top of the first inning at Globe Life Park in Arlington on June 21, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - JUNE 21: Tyson Ross #44 of the Texas Rangers pitches against the Toronto Blue Jays in the top of the first inning at Globe Life Park in Arlington on June 21, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
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CLEVELAND, OH – SEPTEMBER 11: Manager Brad Ausmus #7 removes starting pitcher Myles Jaye #65 of the Detroit Tigers from the game during the fourth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field on September 11, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – SEPTEMBER 11: Manager Brad Ausmus #7 removes starting pitcher Myles Jaye #65 of the Detroit Tigers from the game during the fourth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field on September 11, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

Detroit Tigers general manager Al Avila should take a flier on Tyson Ross for the rest of 2017 and 2018. Ross, who recently became available, could make for an intriguing bounce-back candidate.

Detroit Tigers fans have seen some significant change in the starting rotation over the past few months.

Justin Verlander has been traded, while Daniel Norris and Michael Fulmer have missed time or are currently missing time due to injury.

There’s also young starters Buck Farmer, Chad Lewicki and Myles Jaye, who have moved into the rotation.

More change could conceivably due the Tigers some good.

Since the beginning of September, Detroit starters rank 20th in the league in WAR and last in xFIP.

With a rebuild under way and the season winding down, statistics obviously don’t matter as much as in the midst of a pennant chase.

That being said, the Tigers need to start taking steps forward with their rebuild next season.

They can’t do that if they’re hemorrhaging runs and taxing the bullpen.

One player who could be part of a potential solution is Tyson Ross.

Ross, who was recently released by Texas, is in the midst of a down season. However, he’s an intriguing candidate bounce-back candidate given his past success.

SAN DIEGO, CA – APRIL 13: Tyson Ross #38 of the San Diego Padres pitches during the first inning of an inter-league baseball game at Petco Park against the Detroit Tigers April 13, 2014 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA – APRIL 13: Tyson Ross #38 of the San Diego Padres pitches during the first inning of an inter-league baseball game at Petco Park against the Detroit Tigers April 13, 2014 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images) /

Track record

The former Padre was highly successful in a three-year run in a San Diego uniform from 2013 to 2015.

Ross worked to a cumulative 9.3 WAR over that span, while totaling 516.2 innings. He struck out 9.16 batters per nine innings while posting a 3.07 ERA, a 3.13 FIP and a 3.23 xFIP.

However, after missing most of 2016 due injury, Ross debuted with Texas in May after undergoing surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome last October.

His numbers in 2017 have been less than stellar.

In 12 appearances, including 10 starts, Ross turned in a 7.71 ERA, a 6.17 FIP and a 6.29 xFIP in 49 innings.

He struck out just 6.61 batters per nine frames to go along with a 1.837 WHIP.

Additionally, his average fastball velocity is down according to FanGraphs.

So yeah, none of that is great, but if Ross can turn things around and find some of the form he showcased in San Diego, he’d make for an excellent trade chip down the line.

As it stands, the Tigers are in need of rotation place holders to hold things down until the likes of Franklin Perez, Grayson Long, Beau Burrows and Matt Hall—all of whom found success in Double-A this season—make it to the Majors.

DETROIT, MI – AUGUST 4: Al Avila laughs during a news conference at Comerica Park after he was promoted to executive vice president of baseball operations and general manager on August 4, 2015 in Detroit, Michigan. Avila replaces Dave Dombrowski who was the Tigers’ general manager since 2002. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – AUGUST 4: Al Avila laughs during a news conference at Comerica Park after he was promoted to executive vice president of baseball operations and general manager on August 4, 2015 in Detroit, Michigan. Avila replaces Dave Dombrowski who was the Tigers’ general manager since 2002. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

The future is now—well, almost

It isn’t unreasonable to think that the likes of Perez, Long, Burrows and Hall could be in the Majors by the second half of 2018.

Until the prospects’ debuts, Detroit needs starters to form a bridge between the current rotation and the future one.

Michael Fulmer is an obvious lock for the long haul. However, outside of him there are plenty of question marks in the rotation.

Matthew Boyd and Daniel Norris seem to have taken steps backwards this season, while Jordan Zimmermann and Anibal Sanchez are both sporting FIPs north of 5.30.

Then there’s the Farmer, Lewicki and Jaye trio, who have struggled down the stretch.

Adding Ross to help eat innings as a placeholder for a prospect could be a worthwhile gamble for the Detroit Tigers.

This is all speculative mind you, but bringing in the now former Ranger on a two-year deal (covering the tail end of 2017 and all of next season) could make for an intriguing situation for Detroit.

He’d give the team another option down the stretch first and foremost.

What’s more, should he rediscover the form that made him an All-Star with San Diego, Ross could bring in more prospects in a deal at next season’s trade deadline.

Next: Tigers are in need of SPs

That would help Avila build a more successful and sustainable future, while also clearing a rotation spot for a prospect like Perez or Long.

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