Cubs Could Add Pitching Bargain in Recently DFA'd Starter

Outside of Boyd and Imanaga, none of the Cubs' other starters have an ERA below 4.37, and they just optioned Ben Brown to Triple-A after his last outing.

There have been a number of big-name starting pitchers thrown around for the Cubs to go after at the trade deadline, like Sandy Alcantara, Chris Sale, Mitch Keller, and others. However, many of those options will come with a high price to pay.

ChiCitySports' Tyler Koerth brought up Spencer Turnbull, who was recently designated for assignment, as a potential bargain add for the Cubs to help their pitching staff.

Turnbull signed a $1.2 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays for the 2025 season, but was recently DFA'd when the Blue Jays activated Max Scherzer off the injured list.

The seven-year MLB veteran has cleared waivers and is now a free agent and is available on a prorated league minimum salary.

Turnbull has only pitched 6.1 innings in the majors this season and has given up five runs during those innings. The veteran has struggled with his fastball velocity and spent time in the minor leagues working on it.

Per Darragh McDonald at MLB Trade Rumors, “on that optional assignment, he (Turnbull) seemed to struggle to get his velocity up. He averaged less than 90 miles per hour on his four-seam fastball in his Triple-A outings, despite being at 92 mph last year and in the 93-94 mph range in his previous big league seasons." (h/t chicitysports)

Despite Turnbull's decline in 2025, he turned in the best season of his career in 2024 with the Philadelphia Phillies. Turnbull pitched in 17 games and held a 2.65 ERA. In 2021 with the Detroit Tigers, Turnbull started nine games to the tune of a 2.88 ERA.

The veteran pitcher wouldn't be the deadline star the Cubs may be looking for to put them near the top as World Series favorites, but he could be a bargain add at his price.

The Cubs could get whatever positive innings out of him without costing much at all. After all, his average ERA across his seven years in MLB is 4.31, which would rank third among the Cubs' starters right now.