Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
He doesn’t solve the Giants’ righty problem, but he does help their depth problem.
Tyson Ross, a 2014 All-Star who has been largely hurt by injury the past few years, and the Giants struck a minor league pact on Friday, according to multiple reports. The Berkeley native will make $1.75 million with another $1.75 million in available incentives, according to USA Today.
Ross, 33 in April, is familiar around the Bay Area, having spent his first three seasons with Oakland. He was a standout with San Diego from 2013-15 (3.07 ERA, 115 ERA +), but his 2016 season was sidetracked due to surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome.
For the most part, Ross has not been the same pitcher since returning, though he had a good short run with St. Louis in 2018. Last year he did not make a start after May 10, a nerve issue in his pitching elbow and neck stiffness keeping him off the field.
The Giants have acknowledged they would like to add a lefty to their rotation, which has notably lost Madison Bumgarner this offseason. At the moment, Tyler Anderson, claimed from Colorado, is the lone southpaw who figures to be part of the rotation, and coming off knee surgery, he may not be ready at the season’s onset.
Otherwise, Conner Menez and Andrew Suarez are the only lefties in the mix. Jeff Samardzija, Johnny Cueto and Kevin Gausman will front the rotation, and Tyler Beede will have an inside track at a spot. Logan Webb, Dereck Rodriguez and Shaun Anderson also will fight for spots.