Amid the buzz surrounding the upcoming Super Bowl, the Philadelphia Phillies made a significant pitching acquisition. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski and general manager Dave Dombrowski finalized a one-year, $2 million deal with right-hander Spencer Turnbull, as reported by Jon Heyman of the New York Post. This agreement, though not yet confirmed by the team, includes performance incentives that could potentially add another $2 million to Turnbull’s earnings.
This signing marks a reunion between Turnbull and Dombrowski, as the 31-year-old was originally drafted by Dombrowski’s Detroit Tigers front office in 2014. Turnbull, once highly regarded, was ranked as high as No. 7 overall and No. 4 pitching prospect in the Tigers’ system by MLB Pipeline in 2015 and 2016.
Turnbull’s journey has been marked by both promise and setbacks. Despite a challenging start to his MLB career, he showed improvement during the shortened 2020 season, posting a 4-4 record over 11 starts with a 3.97 ERA. However, his progress was hindered by injuries, including Tommy John surgery, causing him to miss the entire 2022 season and struggle in 2023.
Released by the Tigers in November, Turnbull now joins the Phillies, contributing to their bolstered pitching depth alongside recent additions like Kolby Allard and Max Castillo. This accumulation of talent sets the stage for a competitive battle during spring training, with pitchers vying for roles in both long relief and the starting rotation.
Turnbull brings a diverse pitching arsenal to the Phillies, including a four-seam fastball, slider, sinker, changeup, and curveball. Despite a slight decline in velocity in the 2021 season, his fastball remained effective, holding opposing hitters to a .197 batting average. With the Phillies yet to officially announce the signing, the 40-man roster now stands at 41 players, leaving uncertainty about the corresponding roster move as spring training approaches.
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