SAN DIEGO _ A pair of familiar faces are back with the Padres, though official returns are not guaranteed.
According to sources, San Diego has signed veteran right-handers Tyson Ross and Chris Young to minor-league deals. Ross, 30, and Young, 38, will arrive at spring training attempting to reclaim jobs in a rotation with at least three open spots.
The low-risk agreements reflect the Padres' view of inflated free-agent prices as well as both pitchers' career phases. A 2014 All-Star, Ross was derailed by injury each of the last two seasons. Young, whose own All-Star appearance came in 2007, made just two starts for the Kansas City Royals this year before being released in June.
Ross, whom former general manager Josh Byrnes acquired from Oakland, blossomed into San Diego's top arm in 2014 and 2015. Following a disastrous Opening Day start, he did not make a second big-league appearance in 2016 and eventually required surgery to address symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome. He entered free agency last December when the Padres did not tender him a contract. Texas later signed him to a one-year, $6 million contract, but his return from a lengthy rehab process produced a 7.71 ERA in 49 innings. The Rangers released him in September.
Like Ross, Young produced his best numbers working with Padres pitching coach Darren Balsley. Over five seasons in San Diego, he went 33-25 with a 3.60 ERA. Young has since spent time with the New York Mets, Seattle and Kansas City, even making a successful return from his own thoracic outlet surgery. After strong campaigns in 2014 and 2015, he experienced a steep decline in 2016. He spent much of this past season in the bullpen before the Royals released him in late June.
Past their respective primes, Ross and Young will face challenges in their efforts to make the Opening Day roster, but their signings follow a model the Padres have followed with notable results. Most recently, starters Jhoulys Chacin, Trevor Cahill and Clayton Richard proved to be bargains after signing $1.75 contracts last winter, and Craig Stammen, who accepted a minor-league deal, reemerged as a valuable reliever.
Additionally, the competition is largely unproven. While Richard, Luis Perdomo and Dinelson Lamet are early favorites for the rotation, candidates include Bryan Mitchell, Matt Strahm, Robbie Erlin, Colin Rea and Jordan Lyles.
With Ross and Young joining the picture, the Padres could head to spring training without adding a starting pitcher on a big-league deal. The team will continue monitoring market, though with the possible exception of first baseman Eric Hosmer, they appear unlikely to make a major signing. Free agency generally has moved at a glacial pace this winter, and Hosmer is one of many players who could be signed later rather than sooner.
