Nationals' Joe Ross trying to recruit brother Tyson
Tyson Ross has been a popular name on the rumor mill as of late, with the free-agent right-hander reportedly drawing interest from the Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, and Washington Nationals.
Although the Nationals appear to be a "long shot," according to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal, they do have an ace up their sleeves in the form of Tyson's younger brother Joe, who pitches for the team.
On Friday, the younger Ross sibling discussed the idea of the Nationals signing his brother with Jorge Castillo of The Washington Post, and assured he wouldn't mind it happening, although it would have to be on one condition.
"He can come here as long as he doesn’t take my job," Joe joked. "I’ve been trying to get him over here."
The Nationals appear to have a full rotation next season, with Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, Tanner Roark, Gio Gonzalez, and the younger Ross, but signing Tyson could be added insurance, especially after Strasburg missed time battling various injuries - including an elbow problem - in 2016.
Nationals projected rotation
| PITCHER | GS | IP | W-L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max Scherzer | 34 | 228.1 | 20-7 | 2.96 | 284 |
| Stephen Strasburg | 24 | 147.2 | 15-4 | 3.60 | 183 |
| Tanner Roark | 33 | 210 | 16-10 | 2.83 | 172 |
| Gio Gonzalez | 32 | 177.1 | 11-11 | 4.57 | 171 |
| Joe Ross | 19 | 105 | 7-5 | 3.43 | 93 |
The 29-year-old Tyson pitched just one game - on Opening Day - for the San Diego Padres in 2016, missing the season with a shoulder issue before undergoing thoracic outlet syndrome surgery.
During his career, he owns a 3.64 ERA across 153 appearances, 102 of which have been starts.
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