Former Detroit Tigers Pitcher Who Threw a No-Hitter Lands with National League Team
After being non-tendered by the Detroit Tigers earlier this offseason, pitcher Spencer Turnbull has signed a major league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Per Jon Heyman of the New York Post:
Spencer Turnbull to Phillies. MLB contract. $2M plus $2M in incentives
The 31-year-old Turnbull has had a tough career thusfar, going 12-29 over five years with the Tigers. He also didn't pitch at all in 2022 because of injury. He owns a career 4.55 ERA and led the majors in losses in 2019 with 17.
However, Turnbull has also experienced one of the rarest feelings in sports: throwing a no-hitter in 2021 against the Seattle Mariners. There clearly is something in there when healthy and the Phillies will hope to be able to bring that back out.
There's no definitive ruling yet on what Turnbull's role will be with the Phillies, but it stands to reason he'll battle for the fifth starters spot. The team already has Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Ranger Suarez and Christopher Sanchez in the starting rotation. If Turnbull can't solidify that rotation spot, perhaps he could go to the bullpen or start the year in Triple-A.
The Phillies are coming off a season in which they advanced to the National League Championship Series. They were beaten in seven games by the Arizona Diamondbacks just one year after losing in the World Series themselves to the Houston Astros.
While the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves stand as the cream of the crop in the National League, the Phillies remain viable contenders.
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