The Padres are bolstering their rotation with a pair of familiar faces, reportedly agreeing to Minor League contracts with free-agent right-handers Tyson Ross and Christopher Young.
SB Nation was first to report of the reunion with Ross, while the San Diego Union-Tribune initially reported the deal with Young. The club has not commented on the reports.
Ross, 30, pitched for the Padres from 2013-16 and held a 3.16 ERA with 531 strikeouts over 522 innings. He earned his lone All-Star appearance in 2014 when he held a career-best 2.81 ERA over 195 2/3 innings.
Ross has battled injuries throughout his career, which contributed to the Padres non-tendering him last offseason. He signed with the Rangers but pitched only 49 innings with a 7.71 ERA after missing time recovering from surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome and battling blisters throughout the 2017 season.
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Young, 38, had his best Major League success in San Diego from 2006-10, earning his sole All-Star appearance in '07, when he held a 3.12 ERA over 173 innings. Throughout his five years with the Padres, he compiled a 3.60 ERA with 489 strikeouts over 550 2/3 innings. Last season with the Royals, he held a 7.50 ERA over 30 innings in 14 appearances (two starts).
A starter throughout his tenure in San Diego, Young made 49 of his 50 relief appearances during the past three seasons with Kansas City. He could provide length out of the bullpen if he doesn't earn a spot in the rotation.
The Padres will have plenty of competition for rotation spots in Spring Training. While Clayton Richard, Luis Perdomo and Dinelson Lamet's spots seem fairly secure, Ross and Young will be in the running for the last two spots with Colin Rea, Robbie Erlin, Bryan Mitchell and Jordan Lyles, among others.