Sometimes minor league signings get you a little excited even if recent performance doesn’t necessarily look good and then some turn out to be surprising like Brad Keller. However, even as a fan who tries to be optimistic about most moves, this one doesn’t really do much for me. The Chicago Cubs have signed right-handed pitcher Joe Ross to a minor league deal and let’s just hope that he’s nowhere near the discussion of being on the postseason roster.
I haven’t been keeping up too closely with the pitching situation at Triple-A for the Iowa Cubs, but this could certainly be a situation where the organization simply needs arms to finish out the season. Ross signed with the Philadelphia Phillies last offseason and was recently released by the NL East leaders during the final week of August.
Ross recorded a 5.12 ERA in 37 games with the Phillies, striking out 39 in 51 innings of work. The 32-year-old pitcher had a decent stretch early in 2025, as Ross posted a 3.93 ERA through his first 13 games, but then had a 6.89 ERA in his last 24 games for Philadelphia.
The bright side? Ross did have a pretty good 2024 season and of course it came with the Milwaukee Brewers. After not appearing in the majors for two years, missing time with injuries and eventually Tommy John surgery, Ross made his comeback with the Brewers and had a 3.77 ERA in 74 innings of work in 2024.
Who knows, maybe the Cubs can make a few tweaks or maybe they’ve had interest in him before and want to get a look in September to potentially bring him back next season in some capacity.
Ross began his MLB career with the Washington Nationals after he as the 25th overall pick by the San Diego Padres in the 2011 draft. Ross had two solid years in Washington’s starting rotation, posting a 3.64 ERA and 3.43 ERA in 2015 and 2016, respectively. Ross was part of the 2019 World Series team, as Ross pitched in 27 games during the regular season and pitched twice against the Houston Astros, who the Nationals beat in seven games to win the championship.
Ross has a career 4.28 ERA across eight MLB seasons.
