Should the Blue Jays consider signing this veteran free agent to hold down Max Scherzer’s spot in the rotation?

The Toronto Blue Jays have had their fair share of injuries at the start of 2025, none bigger than the thumb injury suffered by starting pitcher Max Scherzer. While Scherzer won't need surgery for the injury and could return at some point in May, the Blue Jays will need to fill his spot in the rotation for at least a month.

Scherzer's signing sent a jolt of lighting through the Blue Jays fanbase consider his Hall of Fame pedigree and desire to win. Last season, Scherzer posted a 3.95 ERA in 43 1/3 innings with 40 strikeouts in an injury-plagued year, and now he'll be limited for at least part of this season as well.

Which presents a big question for the Blue Jays: What should they do in the meantime?

Should the Blue Jays sign this veteran free agent pitcher?

One name that has come up as a temporary replacement for Scherzer is free agent pitcher Spencer Turnbull.

Turnbull, 32, spent all of last year with the Philadelphia Phillies, where he had a 2.65 ERA in 54 1/3 innings with 58 strikeouts.

Turnbull started last season in the Phillies' rotation (and posted a 1.67 ERA in 32 1/3 innings) before moving to the bullpen in May, where he had a 4.09 ERA in 22 innings over two months.

He was placed on the injured list on June 27 with a lat strain before being moved to the 60-day IL later in the later, which ended his season.

He's no stranger to injuries. He missed the second half of 2021 and all of 2022 due to a right forearm strain that led to Tommy John surgery, and then missed a good portion of 2023 due to a neck strain.

He's only managed to throw 192 innings over the last five years.

But when he's been on the mound, he's been solid. He has a career 4.26 ERA through 356 2/3 career innings with 338 strikeouts. He also threw a no-hitter against the Mariners in 2021 while he was with the Tigers.

His stats aren't horrible, so it wouldn't hurt for Toronto to give him a look and add him to their staff, especially since he could shift toward the bullpen when Scherzer comes back.

The biggest problem in his career has been durability, but the Blue Jays wouldn't need too much out of him. He'd be a solid fill-in option.

The Blue Jays' bullpen looks a bit better than it did last year, which is key for any winning team. Turnbull is a serviceable option in the rotation, but he could also be a dangerous weapon in the 'pen.

Easton Lucas got the first opportunity to fill in for Scherzer and aced the test with five scoreless innings against Washington, but you can never have too much pitching depth.

And Turnbull could be valuable even when Scherzer returns. A pitcher who is coming off of a strong season and would likely sign for cheap is always an enticing free agent.

He may not be a long-term solution to the bullpen depth or the future of the rotation, but he'd be a helpful arm to have in the fold for 2025.