As the Chicago Cubs staggered toward the finish line during the regular season, they made some additions to the roster that many wouldn’t have anticipated.
Signing speedster Billy Hamilton after 2 1/2 years out of Major League Baseball wasn’t on anyone’s bingo card. So, comparatively, picking up right-handed pitcher Joe Ross, who had just been released by the Philadelphia Phillies at the end of August, wasn’t too much of a shocker.
Ross was an eight-year big-league veteran and former first-round pick (2011, San Diego Padres) who got a major league deal from the Phillies before the season. He was also a 2019 World Series champion with the Washington Nationals. He would have been eligible to pitch for the Cubs in the playoffs, where they eventually had eight tough games to get through.
However, after never arriving to the big-league club despite a strong showing in five Triple-A outings, Ross now appears keen on testing the open market this winter.
According to the transactions log on his official roster page, Ross elected free agency on Thursday after just over two months in the Cubs organization. He originally signed a one-year deal with the Phillies, but he’s now technically a minor-league free agent, though he was headed to the market either way.
Though his 5.12 ERA in 51 innings for the Phillies was far from ideal, Ross at least showed well in his seven innings for Triple-A Iowa, allowing just two earned runs.
With a career 4.28 ERA in 568 1/3 innings, Ross has had a solid, if not standout career. He probably won’t get a shot to be named to an opening day rotation, but he’ll try to prove he can make an impact on a team’s bullpen in a swingman role out of spring training and eventually work his way back to starting.
More MLB: Cubs World Series Champion, 12-Year Veteran Retires from MLB: Report