Diamondbacks Release Joe Ross After 2019 MLB World Series Ring Stint

Arizona announced on May 20, 2026, that veteran right‑hander Joe Ross has been released, ending a brief stint that began with a minor‑league contract and an Opening Day roster spot. Ross, a 32‑year‑old who earned an MLB World Series ring with Washington in 2019, was cut as the Diamondbacks reshuffle their pitching depth.

Ross entered the 2026 season on a one‑year minor‑league deal, impressed enough in spring training to make the club’s opening‑day list, but struggled to find consistency in his limited appearances before the organization decided to move on.

Joe Ross: A Look at the Veteran’s Recent Numbers

Joe Ross posted a 4.38 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP over 51 innings for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2025, striking out 45 batters while walking 18. His career line reads 5.08 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 521 strikeouts in 730 innings, showing durability but middling effectiveness. In the 2019 postseason, Ross appeared in three games, logging 2.2 innings with a 2.70 ERA, a contribution that earned him a coveted MLB World Series ring. Those numbers illustrate why Arizona gave him a chance, yet also why the front office brass opted for a younger arm when the roster spot opened.

Ross’ journey to the majors began in the Washington Nationals’ farm system, where he debuted in 2015 after a promising college career at the University of San Diego. In his rookie season he posted a 3.95 ERA in 58 innings, earning a spot in the Nationals’ bullpen for the 2017 NLDS. By 2019 he had transitioned to a middle‑relief role, becoming a trusted bridge between starter and closer. His three postseason appearances—two in the NLCS and one in Game 5 of the World Series—came at a time when the Nationals’ rotation was thin, and his composure under pressure helped preserve leads that ultimately led to the championship.

After Washington, Ross signed a two‑year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2020. In Milwaukee he oscillated between starter and reliever, posting a 4.61 ERA over 92 innings in 2021 before being designated for assignment in early 2022. A mid‑season trade sent him to the Philadelphia Phillies, where he spent the next three seasons primarily as a long‑relief option. The 2025 season, his last full major‑league campaign, showed a modest improvement in strikeout rate (7.9 K/9) but a regression in walk rate (3.2 BB/9), prompting the Phillies to decline his club‑option.

Diamondbacks’ Roster Calculus and the Release Decision

According to Sporting News, Ross signed a minor‑league deal in the offseason and cracked the Opening Day roster. Steve Adams of MLB Trade Rumors noted Ross has “pitched in parts of nine big‑league seasons and sits just one day shy of eight years of major‑league service.” The club released him the same day a reliever landed on the injured list, freeing a spot for a prospect from Triple‑A Reno. The move reflects Arizona’s shift toward spin‑rate‑focused arms as it chases a better ERA+ ranking.

Arizona’s pitching staff currently carries a collective ERA+ of 98, below the league average. By promoting a high‑upside arm with a 9.5 K/9 rate in Triple‑A, the D‑Backs hope to inject more swing‑and‑miss capability, a metric that has risen league‑wide by 0.3 points since 2023. The decision also trims payroll by roughly $850,000, a modest but meaningful saving for a franchise still under a rebuilding timeline.

General manager Mike Hazen has been vocal about the organization’s analytics‑driven philosophy. In a press conference on May 18, Hazen cited “effective spin and ground‑ball percentages” as the primary criteria for the next 10 calls from the bullpen. Ross, whose average fastball spin rate sits at 2,350 rpm—well below the 2,600 rpm benchmark for right‑handed relievers—did not fit the emerging profile. By contrast, the promoted 23‑year‑old right‑hander, Luis Sanchez, logged a 2,680 rpm fastball and a 46% ground‑ball rate in his last 15 Triple‑A outings, aligning directly with Hazen’s strategic template.

Historical Comparisons: Veterans with Rings Who Fell Off Roster Cuts

Ross joins a short list of World Series ring‑winners who have been released within a season of signing a minor‑league deal. The most notable recent example is 2018 World Series champion reliever Matt Albers, who was cut by the Boston Red Sox after a brief 2024 stint despite a sub‑3.00 ERA in 2022. Analysts at FanGraphs point out a common thread: veteran arms whose peripheral metrics (spin rate, barrel percentage, hard‑hit rate) decline faster than their traditional stats suggest. Ross’ barrel percentage over the last three seasons dropped from 6.2% in 2022 to 4.1% in 2025, signaling a loss of elite swing‑and‑miss ability that modern front offices weigh heavily.

Key Developments

• Ross was 32 years old at the time of his release, placing him among the older fringe starters in the league.
• The Diamondbacks released Ross the same day they placed a reliever on the injured list, opening a roster spot for a younger arm.
• During his 2025 season with Philadelphia, Ross threw 51 innings, posting a 4.38 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP.
• Ross’ 2019 World Series ring was earned as a middle‑relief pitcher, appearing in three postseason games for Washington.
• His minor‑league contract included a clause allowing the club to release him without a guaranteed salary, a detail that facilitated the mid‑season move.

Impact and What’s Next for Arizona

Joe Ross will likely attract interest from teams seeking depth, but his recent numbers suggest he will return on a minor‑league deal elsewhere. For Arizona, the immediate impact is a cleared roster slot and a slight payroll reprieve, enabling the promotion of a 23‑year‑old right‑hander who posted a 3.92 ERA in Triple‑A Reno last month. The club’s front office brass hopes that the infusion of youth will improve its ERA+ by at least five points before the season’s second half.

Beyond the numbers, Ross’ departure underscores the Diamondbacks’ broader roster philosophy. Over the past two seasons, Arizona has cycled through 12 relievers with ERA+ below 95, a turnover rate that ranks third‑worst in the NL. By emphasizing spin‑rate and strikeout upside, the D‑Backs aim to shrink that turnover and build a bullpen that can sustain a sub‑3.50 collective ERA—a target that would place them in the top five of the league.

Ross’ agent, Jeff Baker, released a statement on May 21 indicating that his client remains healthy and open to any role, “whether that’s a swing‑and‑miss reliever in the majors or a mentor in the minors.” The statement also highlighted Ross’ experience in high‑leverage postseason situations, a commodity that could appeal to contending clubs looking for a veteran presence in the clubhouse.

For the Diamondbacks, the next move will likely be a call‑up of Luis Sanchez, who has already been added to the 40‑man roster as a precautionary measure. Sanchez’s recent performance—7.1 K/9, 2.4 BB/9, and a 2.87 ERA over 29 innings—matches the statistical profile Hazen has described as “the future of our bullpen.” If Sanchez can translate his Triple‑A success to the majors, Arizona may finally see the ERA+ lift it has been chasing.