The Blue Jays released Spencer Turnbull, according to the MLB.com transaction log. Assuming he clears release waivers, he’ll return to free agency. Toronto had designated the veteran righty for assignment on Wednesday.
Turnbull has over five years of MLB service time and had the right to refuse an outright assignment while retaining his prorated (approximate) $1.27MM salary. The Jays didn’t get much from that modest investment. They were shuttling through fifth starters after losing Max Scherzer to the injured list when they signed Turnbull in early May. He had gone unsigned all winter and wasn’t ready for MLB action, so he spent a little over a month on optional assignment building into game shape in the minors.
By the time Turnbull was ready to be called up, Eric Lauer had impressed the club in a swing role. Lauer subsequently took hold of the fifth starter job and remains in the rotation even after Scherzer’s activation, as Bowden Francis landed on the injured list. Turnbull only made three appearances — two in relief and one abbreviated start — and gave up five runs in 6 1/3 innings. He surrendered 12 hits with four walks and strikeouts apiece.
Despite the shorter stints, Turnbull’s fastball speed was down a tick. He averaged roughly 91 MPH after sitting at 92 as a swingman for the Phillies last season. He pitched well for Philadelphia, working to a 2.65 ERA while striking out 26% of batters faced in 54 1/3 innings. His 2024 season ended when he sustained a lat strain in late June.
He did have the honor of losing 17 games one season (2019)
Led the league in losses and hit batters that year
Tigers lost 114 games that season, that’s how
And Spencer fit right in !
Give it a rest.
Scouts said Turnbull had the best stuff on those Tigers rebuilding teams.
He took many for “the team”.
If he had been pitching for a contender that was scoring runs and playing major league defense, his stats would have been much better.
He wasted some of his best years on last place teams
that ran out there over the hill veterans and AAA players.
He also threw a no hitter in 21
3-17 4.61, is all I need to say…..
And he thought he was better than he was…
That’s what I say about JP Sears but no one believes me that he is a great pitcher pitching for a bad team
Hopefully he wisely invested that 900,000 dollar signing bonus he got when drafted
I sure hope he did. Investing that money to make/save money down the line is the wisest thing to do when you start your professional baseball career.
Keep in mind it’s $600,000 after taxes
Takes the average American 15 years to make that much
Well, these are professional athletes, Comrade, I don’t see how you can compare the two.
Whatever
White Sox
That’s my thought as well. Smith and Schultz have struggled with their command so they’re not ready for a promotion and the Sox will probably trade Hauser and Civale if they can, plus they’ve had a couple of injuries. Pretty much a low-risk signing at this point.
Mets could use more SP depth.
Yes they could and it wouldn’t surprise me if they signed him. Dodgers too
Some pitching needy team will take a flyer on him before the trade deadline and, perhaps, much sooner.
Better to give Turnbull a look on your team for major league minimum after the Jays pay the majority of his contract then to have to give up multiple players in a trade for a mid or back of rotation starter and also pay the full contract amount.
The full contract was $1.2 million. It’s barely more then league minimum so it’s not like teams are really saving all that much.
But your point still stands. Someone will sign him. He just needs a little more time. He certainly didn’t look up to speed.
Save about 500K and to not have to give up players and/or prospects could be a really good deal for some team.
Bargain bin Jed gonna swoop in 🤣
And call that his acquisition of a starter.
Like he did with Civale?
I didn’t know Civale was ever with the Cubs. So I guess so.
Nats should sign him
Padres could use a few more arms.
He will be a met in the coming days.