Yankees target Spencer Turnbull for pitching rotation

The New York Yankees are looking to strengthen their pitching rotation as the 2025 season approaches. This comes after significant injuries to key players. Gerrit Cole is out for the entire season, and Luis Gil will miss at least the first two months. To address these challenges, the Yankees may consider various budget-friendly options for pitching. One possible target is Spencer Turnbull. The 32-year-old right-hander played for the Philadelphia Phillies and the Detroit Tigers. Turnbull has struggled with injuries throughout his career and has not pitched consistently. He managed to throw over 56 innings in a season only once, achieving 148.1 innings in 2019. Last season, the Phillies signed Turnbull, hoping he could stay healthy. Although he pitched well, a lat strain ended his season early. In 54.1 innings over 17 games, including seven starts, he had a career-best ERA of 2.65 and a WHIP of 1.05. The Yankees are in a tough spot. They need to replace the production from Cole, but such replacements are hard to find. They will explore options like Turnbull as they aim to defend their American League championship title. As the season begins soon, the Yankees could acquire Turnbull for less than his projected market value of around $8.8 million for two years.