Braves sign Rival Pitcher with ‘High Upside’ Potential
The Atlanta Braves are exploring options to round out their starting rotation. With only four starters currently in Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, Reynaldo López, and Spencer Schwellenbach, the Braves are in need of a fifth arm. One intriguing possibility is former Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Spencer Turnbull, who is available in free agency.
Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report identified Turnbull as one of seven players on the market with “huge buy-low upside.” Reuter highlighted Turnbull’s impressive start with the Phillies last season, noting, “An injury to Taijuan Walker last spring opened the door for Spencer Turnbull to start the year in the Phillies rotation after signing a one-year, $2 million deal during the offseason. He responded by posting a 1.67 ERA in 32.1 innings over six starts.”
Despite missing half the season due to injury, Turnbull demonstrated his ability to succeed as a starter. Over three seasons with the Detroit Tigers (2019–2021), he maintained a 4.13 ERA and averaged over seven strikeouts per nine innings. His 2019 campaign was particularly strong, featuring a 2.5 WAR across 30 starts.
Turnbull, who earned $2.2 million last season, is expected to see a pay increase, with a current market value of $4.4 million. He’s likely to sign a one- or two-year deal, making him an appealing option for teams seeking affordable rotation depth. For the Braves, Turnbull could provide excellent value as a back-end starter with significant upside.
Leave a Reply