KC Royals Sign Former Tigers High-End Prospect & Recent Blue Jay

The Kansas City Royals have added some pitching depth, reaching into the free agent pool to sign former Detroit Tigers top-end prospect Spencer Turnbull to a minor league deal.

(KC): Signed RHP Spencer Turnbull to a MiLB deal pic.twitter.com/WqzAMlhlv5
— MLB Transactions (@MLBTransacs) August 30, 2025

Turnbull opted out of a minor league deal he had been on with the Chicago Cubs this past week, as the team was not ready to call him up to the bigs. The 32-year-old made six starts at Triple-A Iowa, and it's pretty obvious why the Cubs didn't give him the call:

Turnbull posted a dreadful 9.49 ERA in those six starts, surrendering 40 hits and 26 earned runs in 24.2 innings. He began his journey this season on a major league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays in May. His numbers at AAA Buffalo were similarly bad, with a 9.95 ERA in two starts. Nevertheless, he got a shot with the Jays back in June, where, in three appearances (one start) for Toronto, he registered a 7.11 ERA with four strikeouts and four walks across 6 1⁄3 innings. He was DFA'd by the Jays by the end of that month.

The right-hander began his pro journey as a second-round pick of the Detroit Tigers in 2014, and was a highly-ranked prospect. His first full season in the Motor City was a bit of a mess, as he recorded a major league-leading 17 losses (3-17) en route to a 4.61 ERA.

He did follow that up with two strong shortened seasons in the Tigers rotation, before Tommy John surgery wiped out his 2022 campaign.

He had a solid season as a swingman for the Philadelphia Phillies last year, posting a 2.65 ERA in 17 appearances (seven starts). But that success has obviously not carried over in 2025.

We'll see if he can make his way up to the Royals in September.