It’s up for debate on whether or not the Cardinals should be pursuing a Starting Pitcher in the off-season. Names like Patrick Corbin, Dallas Keuchel, or perhaps Clayton Kershaw sound like the obvious choices, but are there other options the Cardinals should consider?
If the Cardinals do plan on being in for Bryce Harper or Manny Machado, will they want to shell out the money necessary for one of the top Rotation pieces? My gut tells me no, but I think I have an alternative.
Why not bring back Tyson Ross?
Ross was incredibly effective during his time in St. Louis. He appeared in 9 games for the Cardinals and had a 2.73 ERA over 26.1 innings. He was used almost exclusively as a long reliever, but did make one spot start during his time with the Cardinals.
You should absolutely bring back Tyson Ross. He gives you options for both the bullpen and the rotation. He has shown he can be an effective starter in the Major Leagues, and he adjusted well to a long relief role with the Cardinals. He will cost considerably less than Corbin, Keuchel, and Kershaw. Ross gives you added depth without having to pay top dollar.
While nothing about his game screams “elite” he can certainly help the team moving forward. Personally I would keep him in a long relief role, but I can see him earning starts throughout the season. The Cardinals had 11 pitchers who made starts in 2018. Having a guy like Ross that can eat innings is very valuable. Only 2 starters for the Cardinals made 30 starts (Mikolas, Flaherty – AAA,MLB). Ross can give you 30 starts. He is a good pitcher who can provide you depth, but also provides a veteran presence. It’s no secret that the young guys in the pen wore down as the season dragged on. Tyson Ross has been in the Majors for 9 seasons. That’s good experience to have.
Plus, he bombed one off of Kershaw
MLB on Twitter
@TysonRoss becomes the 4th different @Cardinals pitcher to homer this season. #PitchersWhoRake https://t.co/zBIyDAcSTu
I think this is a low level move that could genuinely help the Cardinals in 2019. Time will tell whether or not the two sides have interest, but I’d love to see it happen.
What are your thoughts?
Thanks for Reading
Aaron M.
Follow me on Twitter @AaronArchCity
