Padres Linked to Free Agent Pitcher in Potential Savvy Signing

The San Diego Padres are connected to a free agent pitcher who is currently available and could enhance an already strong pitching staff.

Spencer Turnbull, who last pitched for the Philadelphia Phillies, was not signed during the offseason and remains available for any team to pick up.

In a column about free agency signings that need to happen, Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report lists Turnbull as an obvious signing for any team looking to upgrade the depth of their roster.

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"By this point, just about every team—either due to a litany of injuries or not doing enough in the offseason—could use a back-of-the-rotation starter who can semi-regularly go five innings without completely imploding," Miller writes.

"Yet there sits Spencer Turnbull, ripe for the picking, while fans all over the country (and in Canada) try to tell their teams to do something about that."

Spencer Turnbull is throwing for teams and looking for an MLB job
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) April 10, 2025

Turnbull has racked up injuries over the past few seasons, missing most of 2021 and all of 2022 due to Tommy John surgery, and then battling a neck issue in 2023.

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While those concerns explain why a team has not taken a long-term risk on investing in his future, it does not make sense why a one-year deal has not been floated.

"It doesn't explain why the 32-year-old who threw a no-hitter in May 2021 can't find a one-year contract while we've got Elvin Rodriguez starting games for the Brewers, or Carlos Carrasco in the Yankees rotation," Miller added.

Starting Pitcher I think the Padres should target:

Spencer Turnbull, FA

➡️26.1% K% & 3.85 FIP in 54.1 IP 24'

➡️Added a Sweeper in 24' which avg 5.6" iVB and 13.9" of Horizontal break

➡️145 Stuff+ Sweeper & 104 Overall Stuff+ pic.twitter.com/i6qOB4SFS6
— Clark Fahrenthold (@CFahrenthold11) December 11, 2024

In 2024, Turbull posted an impressive 2.65 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 9.6 K/9, though only in a medium sample of 54 innings pitched.

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He also posted a solid 1.3 WAR last season with the Phillies.

If the Padres can secure the 32-year-old on a one-year deal, it would make sense to give him the opportunity to be a reliable end-of-rotation arm or a long relief pitcher capable of providing quality innings.

The front office may overlook Turnbull due to the strong start by the San Diego pitching staff, though.

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