After spending 4 weeks on the IR with an oblique strain, starting pitcher Thomas Turner is expected to return to action this week when Twin Cities come into town. Turner is expected to start in the final game of the series.
Signed this off-season to a five-year contract totaling $59M, Turner has not been meeting expectations to this point in the season. While his 3-6 record with a 4.55 ERA producing an expected 1.3 WAR shows that he still provides value it is not value of the $12M per year variety. On the heels of a 14-8/3.62 ERA with Sacramento in 2060, the Valencia locals were excited when he was signed to the Stars' organization. Being teamed up with Juan Garcia and the also newly signed Luis Gonzalez to go with back enders Peter Dean and Jonathan Bryant, Valencia was poised to have a pretty steady rotation.
Time will tell whether or not Turner's return will be more like his form from 2060 or more of the same that has been seen so far in 2061. At 36 years old, Father Time may not be on his side, but with scouts still giving him a 60 overall rating and Stuff/Movement/Control ratings of 5/6/9 there may still be a little juice left in the tank.
