The Yankees are hanging in there, but their rotation is already limping through the early days of the 2025 season. With Gerrit Cole ruled out for the year and Luis Gil still months away from a return, the margin for error is razor thin. Carlos Rodón and Max Fried are in place, but behind them, it’s a rotating cast of question marks and patchwork solutions.
Clarke Schmidt is expected to return soon, which will help, but the Yankees might not want to wait around to see if something else goes sideways.
Spencer Turnbull Might Be Worth a Look
If the Yankees are fishing for low-risk, high-reward arms, former Detroit Tigers/Phillies pitcher Spencer Turnbull could be a name to circle. The 32-year-old is prepping to throw for teams in hopes of making an MLB comeback, via Jon Heyman of the New York Post. He tossed 54.1 innings last year with a 2.65 ERA and flashed some promising underlying metrics.
Despite flying under the radar, Turnbull struck out 9.61 batters per nine innings last season and held an impressive 84% left-on-base rate. He also produced a 47.5% ground ball rate, making him a fit for Yankee Stadium’s dimensions—keeping the ball on the ground is a must in that park.
Could Turnbull Fit in the Yankees’ Bullpen?
The Yankees have a knack for squeezing every last drop of value out of pitchers most teams have written off. Whether it’s tweaking pitch usage, refining mechanics, or simply finding better matchups, New York has developed a reputation as a pitcher’s rehab clinic.
Turnbull, with his sharp slider and past flashes of dominance—including a no-hitter—could be a valuable depth piece. Even if he’s not starting games, he might be a viable option in long relief or as a spot starter. He’s already posted a sub-3.00 ERA in two of his last three healthy seasons, which isn’t something many free agents can say this late in the spring.
For a team currently relying on Carlos Carrasco and Will Warren to patch things together, having another arm in the chamber wouldn’t hurt.