Jacob Turner

It wasn't surprising to see the Cubs roll the dice on Turner, a former top prospect, when the Marlins let him go in August. However, he was even worse for the Cubs, holding a 6.49 ERA in 34.2 innings. The Cubs exercised Turner's contract in November, so he'll compete for a rotation spot this spring. His strikeout rate (71 strikeouts in 113 innings last year) indicate that his ceiling isn't exactly high anymore.

Turner hit some turbulence both at the start and end of the 2013 season, but he pitched relatively well during his first full season in Miami. He lost the first two months of the season to a shoulder injury, but did not lose any of his first six starts of 2013, posting a dazzling 1.76 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in his first 41 innings pitched capped off by a complete-game victory at the end of June. Turner put up a 4.79 ERA and 1.63 WHIP the rest of the way (77 innings), and his 4.71 FIP suggests that smoke and mirrors helped keep his ERA south of 4.00 on the season. Turner sits in the low-90s with his fastball, working in a solid curveball, and while his ERA looks decent at first glance, underwhelming strikeout totals (5.9 K/9 in 185.2 major league innings) and a brutal walk rate (4.1 BB/9 in 2013) make the former first-round pick a dicey fantasy option heading into the 2014 campaign.

After being flipped to the Marlins from Detroit midseason, Turner got his longest look yet in the majors and the 2009 first-rounder responded with a solid 3.38 ERA to go along with a stellar 0.98 WHIP over his first 42.2 innings pitched in the National League. The 6-foot-5, 210-pound Turner profiles as your typical top-of-the-rotation power pitcher with a 91 mph fastball complemented by a solid curve as well as a slider and a changeup. Turner’s 1.9 BB/9 with the Marlins last season was his best performance in that category since his debut season at two stops in the Tigers' organization in 2010, while he'll enter 2013 potentially as the Marlins' No. 2 starter behind Ricky Nolasco. If he continues to show steady control, Turner should begin to fully deliver on the potential that recently made him a top-tier prospect.

The Tigers' top-ranked prospect continued his progression in 2011, spending most of his time in the higher levels of the minors while also getting his first cup of coffee in the majors. In 20 starts split between Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo, Turner posted a 3.44 ERA and 110:35 K:BB ratio in 131 innings. He was roughed up in three starts with the Tigers -- allowing 12 runs in 12.2 innings -- but it's hard not to get excited about Turner's future considering his talent, age (20) and pedigree. The 6-foot-5, 210-pound right-hander is a prototypical power pitcher with a heavy fastball that tops out at 96 mph and a solid 12-to-6 curveball. Assuming Detroit doesn't bring in any outside help, Turner is the frontrunner to win the fifth spot in the rotation out of spring training. The Tigers have proven in recent years that they're willing to rush young talent to the majors, so Turner could be making an impact this year. He's one of the better pitching prospects in the game and should warrant immediate fantasy consideration once he locks down a job, especially in keeper formats.

The Tigers' 2009 first-round pick proved worth the hype in his first season of minor league ball, finishing with a 3.28 ERA and 102 strikeouts in 115.1 innings split between Low-A West Michigan and High-A Lakeland last season. Turner hovers in the low-to-mid 90s with his fastball, but he can reach back and touch 96-98 mph at times. His curveball is already considered a plus pitch by most scouts, and his changeup could be at that level by the time he's done maturing in the minors. Turner, who turns 20 in May, is one of the more promising starting pitching prospects in baseball, but he isn't expected to make an impact for the Tigers until 2012 or 2013. Make sure he's on your radar in keeper leagues.

The Tigers selected Turner with their first-round pick in the 2009 draft. The 18-year-old was considered by many scouts to be the top high school pitcher available and he has already been placed high on the Tigers’ list of prospects. He isn’t expected to make it to the big leagues until 2012 or 2013, but his mid-90s fastball and power curveball should already have those in keeper leagues taking notice.