Role-flexible free agent pitcher Spencer Turnbull has signed a major league deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, according to Ben Nicholson-Smith and Shi Davidi of Sportsnet. The pair also reported that Toronto added reliever José Ureña on a major league deal. The veteran right-hander was recently designated for assignment by the New York Mets. Both deals are pending physicals.
The Blue Jays have signed pitchers Spencer Turnbull and José Ureña to major-league deals, pending physicals, per @bnicholsonsmith and @ShiDavidi
pic.twitter.com/Nc6204sCD1
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 3, 2025
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Report: Pitchers Spencer Turnbull, José Ureña Sign with Blue Jays
In 2024 with the Philadelphia Phillies, Turnbull had a 3-0 record and a 2.65 ERA in 17 outings, seven of which were starts. Additionally, he recorded a 1.049 WHIP, 3.85 FIP, and a 64 ERA-, along with 58 strikeouts. He had a 26.1% strikeout rate and a 9.0% walk rate. Opposing batters had a .188 average against Turnbull in 2024. An injury prevented him from pitching for the Phillies in the second half of the regular season and the postseason.
As a starting pitcher in 2024, Turnbull had a 1.78 ERA with a 27.7% strikeout rate and an 8.8% walk rate. For comparison as a reliever, he had a 4.26 ERA with a 23.5% strikeout rate and a 9.4% walk rate. Turnbull had a 0.85 WHIP as a starter compared to a 1.42 WHIP as a reliever. Opposing batters had a .146 average and a .173 BABIP against him as a starter. Meanwhile opposing batters had a .257 average and a .327 BABIP against him as a reliever. Turnbull had a 3.68 FIP as a starter compared to a 4.17 FIP as a reliever in 2024. One factor that Toronto will need to consider for Turnbull is that he has pitched more than 100 innings in a season only once. That came in 2019 with the Detroit Tigers.
Ureña has a career 44-77 record and 4.80 ERA across 11 big league seasons. In his lone appearance for the Mets this season, he allowed five earned runs in three innings, but was still credited with a save. That performance likely factored into New York cutting him loose.
Photo Credit: © Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The post Report: Role-Flexible Pitcher Turnbull Signs with Blue Jays appeared first on Last Word On Baseball.