New York Yankees: Why Aren’t The Bombers Making a Push For Tyson Ross?

The New York Yankees starting rotation has plenty of options and plenty of question marks. With Masahiro Tanaka seeming like the only sure thing, the Bombers should be looking to lock up Tyson Ross.

The New York Yankees starting rotation ranked 16th in WAR and 19th in ERA (4.44) in 2016. The Baltimore Orioles are the only playoff team to rank below them in either category, doing so in both in fact, but the Oriole offense also scored 64 more runs than New York’s and they were helped out by Zach Britton have arguably the best season ever by a reliever.

While it doesn’t necessarily need to be said, the Yankees could use some help in their rotation. Currently the team is relying on Tanaka, C.C. Sabathia and Michael Pineda along with some combination of Luis Severino, Luis Cessa, Chad Green, Bryan Mitchell and Adam Warren to make up five competent starters. Severino was much more effective out of the bullpen last year, holding a 0.39 ERA over 23 1/3 innings, giving him a 0.6 WAR which ranked fourth in the ‘pen behind Betances, Miller and Chapman. He also held an ERA over eight as a starter, so there is one more reason to keep him in the bullpen.

If Severino does indeed stay in the ‘pen, then that leaves four pitchers with a combined 46 big league starts under their collective belts as the best options on board. Adam Warren has 21 of those and has amassed over 350 innings in the majors, while Green (8 starts), Cessa (9) and Mitchell (8) have altogether thrown about one full season for a starter, accounting for just over 180 innings.

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Of course the Yankees are rebuilding and some youth is expected. But this team is expected to compete, even during a rebuild. I mean, they made a push towards October late in 2016 after the departures of Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira, Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller. Granted the ridiculous hot streak that Gary Sanchez went on surely helped, but it also set the bar a bit higher for 2017.

The New York Yankees should make a push for surprising free agent Tyson Ross, who missed nearly the entire 2016 season due to injury and was then non-tendered by the Padres, who have decided to fill their roster with Rule 5 picks rather than pay Ross. He should be ready to go around March, barring any setbacks, and in the past he has been among the best on the mound. Since 2014 Ross ranks 34th in WAR among starting pitchers and held a 3.15 ERA, comparable to Tanaka’s 3.12 in that timeframe, while holding the edge in FIP at 3.11 to 3.53. Keep in mind that he missed an entire season in that span.

So on the optimistic side of things, you get a solid number two starter, moving Sabathia to third or fourth in the rotation, which could equal more wins with C.C. facing less stiff competition. On the downside, Ross could have setback after setback or not return to that Cy Young caliber form. Signing the 29-year-old righty is by no means a slam dunk for a successful season, but there is plenty of upside in doing so, and could likely be had on a one-year value-building deal or one with a team option for 2018.

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If he doesn’t perform as expected, he’s not going to cost top-of-the-market money by any means, and the club could always turn back to the aforementioned quartet to fill the gaps in their rotation. Signing Ross would be a win-win for the Bronx Bombers and is likely the best option they have at upgrading the rotation via free agency.