The White Sox have claimed right-hander Jacob Turner off waivers from the Cubs, according to the club’s transactions page at MLB.com. Turner, 24, didn’t pitch in the Majors this season, spending most of the year on the 60-day disabled list due to a strained right flexor tendon and right shoulder inflammation.
Formerly one of the top prospects in the game — Baseball America ranked him within its Top 30 for three consecutive offseasons from 2010-12 — Turner’s career has been slowed dramatically by injuries. The Tigers selected him ninth overall in the 2009 draft, and he was the centerpiece of the trade that sent Anibal Sanchez and Omar Infante from Miami to Detroit.
Turner spent parts of three seasons with the Marlins and was mostly healthy there (he did miss time in 2014 with shoulder issues), but he wasn’t able to deliver on his considerable upside. Miami made the tough call to designate him for assignment in August of 2014, as he was out of options and couldn’t be sent to the minors without clearing waivers (which was never going to happen at that point). Miami placed Turner on revocable waivers, with the hope of working out a trade to a club with a high priority, and there was some surprise when the Rockies, who then had the No. 1 waiver priority, neglected to place a claim. The Cubs, who were second in line, promptly claimed him and worked out a trade, sending minor league right-handers Tyler Bremer and Jose Arias to Miami in return.
In hindsight, the series of transactions was largely inconsequential, as Turner was healthy enough to throw just 34 2/3 unsuccessful innings for the Cubs, though it made plenty of sense for the Cubs to roll the dice on a prospect with the type of upside Turner possessed.
The White Sox will now look to do the same, although because he’s out of options, they’ll have to either pass him through outright waivers — something the Cubs just failed at doing, hence the claim — or keep him on the 40-man roster all winter and Spring Training. Turner would have to break camp with the big league club next year or be exposed to outright waivers late in the spring.
Certainly no harm in taking this flyer.
Good move by the White Sox.
Neutral move*
Too much talent to not contribute to a ML team at some point. Good pick up, hope Coop can help.
I am wondering why the Tigers did not think he was worth a claim.
Wouldn’t the White Sox have had first claim on him either way? Being that their record was worse.
Tigers record was worse than the White Sox
Alright, Coop, time to work your magic.
If Bosio couldn’t fix him, Cooper sure as heck can’t.
He was injured so id agree with you only if he had the opportunity
He was hurt so Bosio never got the chance
White sox will have trouble signing any big name pitcher this off season so this was a hope and prayer. Turner would flourish in Pittsburgh but once Don Cooper lays hands on this kid, well, your career is over young man
They don’t need to add a big named pither. Sale Quintana are a great 1-2 punch, Rodon is 3 and Danks isn’t a bad 5 (granted overpaid but everyone else is underpaid in their rotation).
Don’t understate Danks. He is absolutely a bad 5.
I wouldn’t be shocked to see the sox get a rhp to sandwich between quintana and rodon or between sale and quintana depending on the quality of the signing. Have to agree with @stymeedone though Danks isn’t a very good no.5. Statistically hes average for a no.5 but his contract makes the pill hard to swallow.
Once Don Cooper lays his hands on him? because Pittsburgh has a storied history of developing pitchers or having successful project pitchers turn it around
Yes Cooper is overrated. “The Shark” is an excellent example
The ‘Shark’ refused to listen to Cooper. Big difference.
Pittsburgh has resurrected numerous numerous careers.
Once cooper lays hands on a kid, his career is over? What are you on? Cooper is one of the best pitching coaches in the league. What is your evidence he was not a great pitching coach, what because of Shark? Samardzija does not strike me as a guy that wanted to listen or buy into Coops program. If you do not like the pitching coach then good luck learning anything from him.
Not sure who ranks pitching coaches but i can promise you he is overrated!
Only people that refer to him as the best is a novice white sox fan
I have been a Sox fan for about 25 years now, Cooper is one of the best pitching coaches around. Sounds like you are the novice or a Samardzija apologist.
He is only 24. Why not if there is flexibility on 40 man
What the Sox should do is trying to ‘claim’ a new manager otherwise it does not matter what players they get.