San Diego Padres: Ross Extension Should be Top Priority

With the San Diego Padres still in need of another starter before 2017, coming to terms with right-hander Tyson Ross should be a top priority of the rest of the offseason.

Approximately seven weeks remain before pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training in Arizona for the San Diego Padres. Many needs have already been met by the organization’s front office this offseason, but adding one more starter would be ideal.

The Padres have already extended Clayton Richard a year, and have added another possible starter in Jhoulys Chacin. Rumors about Jake Peavy and Jered Weaver have also surrounded the organization, making it appear that they were aggressively shopping starting pitching.

It makes sense that the Padres would be going after more starting pitching, but Tyson Ross would make a whole lot more sense than Peavy or Weaver.

Weaver is 34, and Peavy is 35. Each is coming off of a season in which their decline was imminent, yet would still cost a decent amount judging based on their multi-million dollar contracts from last season.

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Ross, a much more affordable option, could still end up being more than a one year rental. At 29, there is potential for the right-hander to sign a multi-year deal, one which the Padres could get away with spending much less than 2016’s $9 million for.

Also, there is something to be said for the familiarity of Ross in San Diego. Weaver and Peavy would serve their purpose, but wouldn’t be part of the long term solution. Since the Padres most likely won’t be contending in 2017, it would make no sense to go after temporary solutions. If they found themselves in a position at the trade deadline, that would be the time to make a move like this.

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A rotation can not be made up of Richard and Chacin. One more starter who can fill the third starter role ought to be a top priority of the remainder of the offseason. While Peavy and Weaver may appear to be exciting signings on the surface, Ross makes much more sense long term.