The Tigers announced this afternoon they’ve agreed to terms with starter Spencer Turnbull on a two-year contract. The deal doesn’t affect his window of club control, but it will prevent the team and player from worrying about arbitration hearings for the next couple seasons. Turnbull will still be arb-eligible in 2024. That’s his final season before hitting free agency.
Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free-Press reports the terms (on Twitter). He’ll make $1.5MM this season, followed by a $2.15MM salary in 2023. The deal also contains $125K in possible performance bonuses for the latter campaign. Prior to the extension, Turnbull had filed for a $2.1MM salary while the club had filed at $1.325MM. The right-hander settles at a figure nearer the team’s asking price this year, but he’ll see a bump towards his desired number for the following campaign.
In all likelihood, Turnbull wouldn’t have been in position to net much of a raise next winter had he proceeded through arbitration. The 29-year-old underwent Tommy John surgery last July. He has expressed optimism this spring about returning to the big leagues late in the season, but a best-case scenario would probably see him back in short stints for the final few weeks of the year.
The forearm tightness that necessitated that procedure marked an unfortunate end to what had been shaping up as a productive season. Through nine starts, Turnbull owned a 2.88 ERA. His 21.9% strikeout rate was a couple ticks below average, but he racked up ground-balls at a huge 57.2% clip in that time. It was the second straight productive season for Turnbull, who posted a 3.97 ERA in 56 2/3 frames during the condensed 2020 season.
For the upcoming season, Detroit looks likely to rely on Eduardo Rodríguez, Casey Mize, Tarik Skubal, Matt Manning and Michael Pineda as the starting five. Wily Peralta and Tyler Alexander are the top depth options thereafter for manager A.J. Hinch. If healthy, Turnbull will certainly return to the rotation in 2023.
Red Bull!
No wings here, just more MPH on a fastball
Good signing on both ends. Tigers get his potential for the 2023 and 2024 seasons for under $4M for the next two seasons. Turnbull gets paid pretty well to rehab his injury this year.
The Tigers signed him for this and next year. 2024 is Turnbull’s last year of arbitration. I would prefer an extension beyond 2024 anyway; Turnbull hasn’t earned much yet and should be interested.
Gruß,
BSHH
Turnbull may only get one shot at an 8 figure contract so leaving 2024 open for him is necessary on his one shot. If he gets a 3 year 15 million deal, he’s happy and set for life. He lives frugally so if he makes 20 to 25 million in a career, he’s still set by most standards.
Am I the only one who felt like the Tigers really should have tried to add one more good starting pitcher? Their starting 5 could be solid, but it also has a fair amount of risk, and they have very little depth. Their young guys haven’t thrown a ton of innings and Manning has been inconsistent, Pineda and Peralta look washed up, and their other young MLB ready guys like Faedo and Wentz are question marks coming off surgery. If they lose even two of their top four guys to injury, they could be in trouble pretty quickly.
I think they have a lot of depth at SP. I think they are counting on their depth to provide quality innings.
I also like Todd The Painter in that 6th starter/long relief role that he mastered last season.
Unless you need each one to eat 180 innings, I would deem neither Pineda nor Wi. Peralta overly “washed up”. In addition to Rodriguez, Mize,Skubal, Manning and Pineda there is the swingman Alexander plus Peralta and Hutchison on minor-league contracts. Prospects like Wentz and Brieske are already assigned to AAA Toledo, Faedo might follow this year. So there is some pitching depth.
Adding another starter would be tricky, since Turnbull is expected back next year and someone like Wentz could be MLB ready then. I think the Tigers were right to allocate their resources like they did.
Gruß,
BSHH
How have Pineda and Peralta looked washed up? They aren’t in camp as they are still waiting for work visas.
That’s what happened last year.
Better luck moving forward
I’m definitely confident in the pitching depth. Tyler Alexander/Pineda/Peralta. Wentz and Faedo making their debuts. Couple guys in Toledo could spot start. Funk, Greene and Chafin coming back within the next month or so. This team is locked up for the foreseeable future. Hopefully we are adding at the trade deadline, too. It’ll be interesting to see how they handle the 40 man roster spots.