44 Tyson Ross SP

Ross was released by the Rangers on Tuesday.

Texas took a low-risk gamble when they signed Ross this past offseason, and it clearly didn't work out. He notched a 7.71 ERA with 36 strikeouts and 37 walks in 49 innings, primarily as a starter. It's possible that he lands a non-roster invite to spring training with another team in 2018.

Ross was lit up for four runs on four hits and two walks across 2.1 innings of relief in Sunday's 16-7 loss to the Yankees.

Since being ousted from the rotation following his Aug. 22 start, Ross has made two appearances out of the bullpen, and both have been disastrous. He's served up six runs in three innings of relief while striking out just one batter, offering the Rangers little evidence that he'll warrant usage outside of mop-up situations. Ross, who is set to become a free agent this offseason, doesn't seem likely to be retained by the Rangers, and may have to settle for a minor-league contract in light of his extensive injury history and the horrid 7.71 ERA and 1.84 WHIP over 49 innings he's posted in 2017.

The Rangers will move the struggling Ross to the bullpen, Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

Ross has been awful this season, as he owns a 7.04 ERA and 1.76 WHIP and has completed the sixth inning just once in 10 starts. He will be replaced in the rotation by Nick Martinez, and the Rangers will hope Ross can rediscover even the slightest bit of his old form in the bullpen.

The Rangers are still undecided on whether Ross will make his next scheduled start against the A's on Sunday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Ross has struggled mightily in 10 starts this season, registering just one quality start and compiling a 7.04 ERA and 35:35 K:BB. The 30-year-old has had trouble pitching deep into games -- he's failed to make it out of the fourth inning in three of his last five starts -- so the Rangers could choose to send out an alternate starter with hopes of preserving their bullpen. The decision will likely come Thursday, when Nick Martinez, one of Ross's potential replacements, is scheduled to pitch for Triple-A Round Rock. Austin Bibens-Dirkx is the other option to start if Ross is skipped.

Ross (3-3) took the loss in the Rangers' 10-1 defeat Tuesday against the Angels, giving up three runs on seven hits and four walks over 3.2 innings. He struck out four batters in the outing.

Finding the strike zone was once again an issue for the the right-hander, who needed 98 pitches just to record 11 outs. Ross has now handed out at least four free passes in four consecutive outings and maintains an unpalatable 35:35 K:BB over 46 innings on the campaign. With the 30-year-old set to become a free agent this winter and showing few signs that he'll be able to recapture the strong form he showed with the Padres prior to undergoing thoracic outlet syndrome surgery last October, the Rangers could elect to pull Ross from the rotation in favor of another starting option who can work deeper into games more consistently.