Blue Jays add former Phillies veteran to rotation and botch the corresponding move

While the Blue Jays wait for Max Scherzer to get healthy, their rotation has been shorthanded. There have been multiple veterans bouncing in and out of the rotation. Heading into Toronto's next series against the Cardinals, the Blue Jays decided to add a new arm to the rotation. Spencer Turnbull has been selected to join the big league club and will serve as the fifth starter.

Turnbull had a fine season with the Phillies last year, posting a 2.65 ERA with a 3.85 FIP and a K/9 of 9.61 across 54.1 IP. Unfortunately, injuries hurt him and set him back this season too. He is healthy now and will join the Blue Jays, despite his slow start in Triple-A.

In 6.1 IP with Triple-A Buffalo, Turnbull has allowed nine hits, five walks, and seven earned runs while striking out four. That is not really promising for the Blue Jays to really get better and all fans can really hope for is for Turnbull to produce in the major leagues like he did in 2024.

Blue Jays promote Spencer Turnbull and demote Paxton Schultz to Triple-A.

Paxton Schultz was sent down to correspond with this promotion and the Blue Jays will hope they haven't made a huge mistake with that move. Schultz made his debut this season at 27 years old and did very well. Across 16.1 IP, he produced a 3.24 ERA with a 3.79. FIP and a 11.34 K/9. These numbers were great and were just what the Blue Jays needed, but have decided he will go down to Triple-A.

If Turnbull is joining the team to fill the void in the rotation, that is great, but if he is just going to be a multi inning reliever over Schultz then that is a failed move. Bowden Francis has not been good at all while Eric Lauer has been posting good numbers. Replacing Francis with Turnbull would have been the right move, to make this pitching staff as strong as possible right now.

There is no one scheduled to pitch Wednesday's game as of Sunday evening, so maybe that will be Turnbull's first turn in the rotation. This upcoming Cardinals series is a big three game set for the Blue Jays. Sitting five games back of the Yankees, Toronto really needs to cut down the gap from first place and hopefully Turnbull can be a difference maker and help them stay on a heater.