Chicago Cubs pick up Jacob Turner’s 2015 contract option

Believed to be a contender for a spot in the starting rotation next season, right-hander Jacob Turner saw his contract option for 2015, valued at $1 million, picked up by the Chicago Cubs on Saturday in a fairly routine and widely-expected move.

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Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald initially reported the move, which comes on the heels of Kyuji Fujikawa’s option” href=”https://cubbiescrib.com/2014/10/30/kyuji-fujikawa-15-option-declined/”>several roster moves the team made late this week. After the Miami Marlins placed the 23-year-old on waivers in August, the Cubs completed a trade that brought the formerly-touted right-hander to Chicago, where he struggled in the season’s final weeks, posting a 6.49 ERA in eight appearances, including six starts.

His first start with the Cubs came on Sept. 1, after he had already appeared in a pair of games out of the bullpen for manager Rick Renteria. Against the Brewers at home, Turner allowed just one run on five hits over 6 1/3 innings in what would prove to be his best start of the season for Chicago. In his subsequent four starts, he allowed at least four earned before turning in a two-run effort over five innings against Milwaukee in the season’s final weekend.

Prior to the trade, Turner struggled, pitching to the tune of a 5.97 ERA across 78 1/3 innings. However, he showed plenty of promise in 2013, despite his 3-8 record, as he recorded a 3.74 ERA – although his 1.441 WHIP left plenty to be desired, as well.

At the end of the season, the young righty was part of a six-man rotation for Renteria and the Cubs and he is expected to be a contributor at the big league level in 2014 in some capacity, although in what fashion depends heavily on the team’s moves this offseason. He could be a long-man in the bullpen or a back-end starter in 2015.

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