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The Toronto Blue Jays are signing two pitchers to try and help the pitching staff. Toronto is giving deals to hurlers Jose Urena and Spencer Turnbull, per MLB Network. The deals are pending physicals for the players.
Turnbull finished last season on the injured list, but pitched well before that for the Philadelphia Phillies. He had a 3-0 record, and pitched as both a starter and in relief. He has not recorded a pitching appearance this year.
Urena pitched one game this season for the New York Mets. It didn’t go well, as he posted a 15.00 ERA. He allowed five earned runs in three innings of work. New York soon cut him loose after that.
The Blue Jays are struggling this season to stay afloat in the American League East. Toronto holds a 16-16 record heading into Saturday.
The Blue Jays could use some new arms
The Blue Jays are on a skid. Toronto has lost six of their last 10 games. While the club looks solid playing in Canada, the Blue Jays are only 5-10 away from home this season.
The jewel of the rotation this season is supposed to be veteran Max Scherzer. Scherzer signed a one-year deal with the Blue Jays before the 2025 campaign. An injury to his thumb though has slowed Scherzer down. He has appeared in just one game all season, and that was back in March.
Blue Jays fans hope that Turnbull and Urena can help the team out. While Urena got battered in his one outing this year, he showed promise as a minor league pitcher.
Turnbull meanwhile is a veteran with a deep pitching repertoire. He can also bring leadership to the clubhouse.
The club is expected to continue looking for free agents who can help the team.
“We also need to consider external alternatives and we have a couple of things in the works there that are more on the depth front via free agency,” Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said Friday, per SportsNet Canada.
Toronto plays the Cleveland Guardians on Saturday.
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Padres' Manny Machado Bashes Cardinals Coach, Ex-Padre Jon Jay in Epic Rant
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Shedeur Sanders gets new chance after Browns QB injury
Shedeur Sanders has been working with the Cleveland Browns' equipment staff as the No. 4 quarterback this summer. He'll have a new opportunity following troubling injury news for Kenny Pickett. Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, Pickett suffered a hamstring injury during Saturday's practice and will not receive reps until his issue is re-evaluated. "Browns QB Kenny Pickett injured his hamstring near the end of Saturday’s practice and is expected to re-evaluate the injury later this week, per sources," Schefter posted on X. "Pickett was coming off a strong couple of practices, per sources, and at least for the short term, there now will be more reps for Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. Pickett's injury will shake up the quarterback race in Cleveland. Through OTAs and early in training camp, Sanders has been the odd man out as the only signal caller on the roster not to receive reps with the first-team offense. It's unclear if the Browns coaching staff intends to give Sanders reps with the first-team offense now that Pickett is sidelined, but the fifth-round pick will have more chances this week to prove that he deserves an opportunity to stay in Cleveland. The Browns are in a unique situation with their rookie quarterbacks. Third-round pick Dillon Gabriel was selected before Sanders, but the son of Deion Sanders fell to Day 3 of the draft for reasons other than talent. The majority of draft analysts had Sanders as a better-graded quarterback than Gabriel, and many thought the Colorado product would be taken in the first round. The Browns can use the injury as an excuse to give Sanders reps with the first team, and it's a task they need to take advantage of before the team names a starter. Sanders has the potential to be a starter in the league, and this week is pivotal for his rookie season in Cleveland.
Kirk Cousins makes notable leadership move after Falcons practice
Kirk Cousins might be relegated to the job of backup quarterback, but he is showing veteran leadership to his Atlanta Falcons teammates. Following Sunday's practice, Cousins pulled aside rookie defensive end James Pearce to encourage the first-round pick after his fourth practice in the league at Flowery Branch, Georgia. "QB Kirk Cousins pulled aside Pearce after practice to compliment him on a pass batted down," wrote Marc Raimondi of ESPN. Cousins reportedly had a solid day of practice on Sunday, going 7-of-12 passing against the first-team unit. If Cousins wants out of Atlanta, he's not showing it at practice. The four-time Pro Bowl quarterback is competing on the field and being a good teammate around the facility. Cousins' actions on the field backed up what Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot praised Cousins for before the team's practice on Sunday. “Outside, it's a lot more of a deal than it is in the building,” Fontenot said to the media about the idea of friction between the Falcons and Cousins, per video from D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “He shows up, he does his job, just like anybody ... We've gotta build the best 70-man roster so we can go win games. "That's what we're focused on, and Kirk, just like all the other players, is focused on coming in here and doing their job. That's what he's been doing." Fontenot didn't dismiss the idea that Atlanta would trade Cousins before the season. He said the Falcons will do whatever it takes to make the team better, but stressed that Cousins has been a professional throughout the process of being replaced by Michael Penix Jr., a first-round pick from the 2024 draft. “In terms of making moves, whether it's trades or acquiring players, we're always looking at those factors," Fontenot said. "We're gonna do whatever we can do to make this team the best it can possibly be. But he's been a great professional, and he's handled himself well.” Cousins is coming to work in a manner that will make another owner want to take a chance on the veteran quarterback. That could be one of his best-selling points before he plays in his 13th season in the league.
Fever Coach Stephanie White Sends Strong Message on Angel Reese
The Indiana Fever recently defeated the Chicago Sky 93-78, earning a victory over their rivals despite Caitlin Clark being ruled out. Clark has been ruled out for quite some time, having missed a large portion of her second season in the WNBA with a string of injuries. Another WNBA star who's recently dealt with a setback is Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese. The 23-year-old Sky star was ruled out of the matchup against the Fever, nursing a back injury. Before the Fever versus Sky matchup, Indiana coach Stephanie White spoke on the absence of Reese. During her conversation with the media, White labeled Reese as the "best rebounder" in the WNBA. "We know that she is the best rebounder in this league," White said. "The way they use her in the point-forward position sometimes creates some challenges." Angel Reese has earned the label from Stephanie White. Since entering the WNBA last season, Reese has been widely regarded as one of the best rebounders in the league, having capped off her rookie year by averaging a double-double. She finished her rookie season posting 13.6 points and 13.1 rebounds per game. Reese was second in Rookie of the Year voting behind Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark. Throughout her second season in the WNBA, Angel Reese has posted 13.8 points and 12.5 rebounds per game, similar to her stat line from her rookie season. The Chicago Sky will await the return of Reese, who's widely known as their best and most versatile player.
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