The Washington Nationals and right handed pitcher Joe Ross have agreed to a one-year deal worth $1.5 million, according to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand.
Ross opted out of the 2020 season due to concerns of COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, he did not earn service time, leading to him be arbitration-eligible once again in 2021, Feinsand added.
Ross, 27, is expected to compete with Austin Voth and Erick Fedde to be the fifth starter in the Nationals’ pitching rotation.
He is looking to get his career back on track after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2017. In 2019, his first full season following the surgery, Ross was up and down. He split his time as a starter and the bullpen.
Ross appeared in 27 games, starting nine. He posted a 4-4 record and had a 11.17 ERA as a reliever, but had an impressive 3.02 ERA as a starter. He started Game 5 of the 2019 World Series in place of the injured Max Scherzer against the Houston Astros.
