Phillies sign righty Joe Ross to one-year deal

The Phillies have agreed to a one-year deal with right-hander Joe Ross, per Matt Gelb of The Athletic. Ross, who posted a 3.77 ERA over 74 innings with the Milwaukee Brewers last season, is expected to fill a swingman role for Philadelphia in 2024.

Joe Ross with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2024:

2024 stats for Joe Ross with the Milwaukee Brewers:

25 G | 10 GS | 74.0 IP | 72 H | 31 HR | 7 HR | 29 BB | 66 K | 3.77 ERA | 3.83 FIP pic.twitter.com/qQeqQJQjz8

— Phillies Tailgate (@PhilsTailgate) December 23, 2024

He’s considered a versatile arm capable of starting or coming out of the bullpen. Last season, he made both starts and relief appearances for the Brewers, proving to be an effective option in a variety of roles.

While he’s not likely to see much time in the rotation, Ross gives the Phillies valuable depth and flexibility as they head into the season.

Not to mention, he was much better out of the bullpen last year than utilized as a starter.

Joe Ross Pitching Splits in 2024:

• Starter: 10 games 4.98 ERA .733 OPS against
• Reliever: 15 games 1.67 ERA .575 OPS against

Ross’ role as a starter will be limited, thanks to the Phillies’ already stacked rotation, which was bolstered over the weekend by the addition of Jesus Luzardo.

The rotation now features Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Cristopher Sanchez, Ranger Suarez, and Luzardo, with top prospect Andrew Painter waiting in the wings to make his mark.

Phillies land Jesus Luzardo from the Marlins in exchange for two highly-touted prospects

With such a strong starting five and Painter expected to contribute at some point, Ross will primarily serve as a long reliever or spot starter, stepping in to provide innings as needed over the grind of the season.

Innings Eater Joe Ross Incoming:

The addition of Ross is less about competing for a rotation spot and more about giving the Phillies a reliable arm to handle versatile assignments.

Injuries and heavy workloads are inevitable in a 162-game season, and Ross’ ability to fill gaps between the rotation and bullpen makes him a valuable asset.

The Phillies look primed for another playoff push with their rotation now one of the deepest in the league. While Ross is unlikely to make waves as a starter, his experience and dependability give Philadelphia a solid insurance policy.

For a team with championship aspirations, moves like this are the kind that can quietly pay dividends in the long run.

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