Spencer Turnbull Finds New Opportunity with Blue Jays After Strong 2024 in Philadelphia
The Philadelphia Phillies’ starting rotation has consistently been one of Major League Baseball’s top units over the past several seasons, and 2025 is no exception. Anchored by a formidable mix of elite talent and rising stars, the rotation features All-Star-caliber arms such as Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Cristopher Sánchez, and Ranger Suárez. They’ve even added rising talent like Jesús Luzardo and prized prospect Andrew Painter, who is ranked among the top 10 prospects by MLB Pipeline.
When fully healthy, the Phillies’ rotation borders on unfair. But as is the nature of a 162-game season, injuries—especially to pitchers—are inevitable. That’s why Philadelphia has been proactive in building pitching depth behind their star-studded rotation. A prime example of this strategy was their acquisition of Spencer Turnbull.
Turnbull joined the Phillies for the 2024 season on a modest one-year, $2 million deal, serving as valuable rotation depth. He initially filled in for the injured Taijuan Walker and quickly made the most of the opportunity, delivering strong performances both as a starter and out of the bullpen. Unfortunately, a lat injury suffered midseason in June prematurely ended his campaign.
Despite his success in Philadelphia, Turnbull remained unsigned into the 2025 season—a surprising development, considering his performance. That changed recently when one of the league’s most pitching-needy clubs, the Toronto Blue Jays, came calling.
Turnbull Signs with Toronto After Posting Strong Numbers in 2024
In 17 appearances for the Phillies last season—seven starts and ten relief outings—Turnbull posted an impressive 2.65 ERA and a 3.85 FIP over 54.1 innings. Even after Walker’s return to the rotation, Turnbull continued to impress, though he was shifted to a bullpen role. The move puzzled many fans who believed Turnbull had earned a longer run as a starter, especially given Walker’s early-season struggles.
Still, his 2024 campaign did not go unnoticed. On May 3, Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith reported that the Blue Jays had agreed to a major league contract with Turnbull, pending a physical.
“Blue Jays have agreed to sign right-hander Spencer Turnbull to a big-league deal pending physical,” Nicholson-Smith tweeted. “Turnbull posted a 2.65 ERA in 54.1 innings with the Phillies last year (7 starts, 10 relief appearances).”
Blue Jays Hoping Turnbull Can Stabilize Unsteady Pitching Staff
The Blue Jays are currently facing a rough patch with their pitching. As of May 5, their team ERA sits at 4.24, ranking 19th in the league. Injuries and inconsistency have plagued their rotation, most notably the absence of veteran Max Scherzer, who’s been sidelined since March 30 with a right thumb injury.
Given these challenges, Turnbull’s addition provides Toronto with some much-needed depth and flexibility. He’s expected to serve as both a spot starter and a reliever—roles he balanced effectively during his time in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia’s Decision to Move On Raises Eyebrows
While Turnbull’s signing makes perfect sense for Toronto, it does beg the question: why didn’t the Phillies make more of an effort to retain him?
Despite Turnbull’s success and familiarity with the organization, the Phillies chose not to re-sign him. Instead, they opted to bring in Joe Ross, another pitcher with starting experience, to serve as their long reliever. Though Ross had a rocky start, he’s recently strung together six consecutive scoreless appearances, validating the Phillies’ decision—for now.
Additionally, Philadelphia has been relatively fortunate on the injury front. Outside of a brief absence from Suárez, the rotation has remained mostly intact. Walker, who had been shaky in previous seasons, has stepped up admirably, delivering solid outings in Suárez’s absence. The Phillies likely viewed their rotation as stable enough not to require Turnbull’s return.
That’s precisely the model the Blue Jays are now trying to replicate. With injuries already taking a toll and depth concerns looming, Turnbull represents a low-risk, high-reward acquisition who can help plug immediate gaps while offering longer-term upside if he can stay healthy.
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