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Turner gets one-year deal with White Sox

CHICAGO -- The White Sox non-tendered Jacob Turner on Wednesday, but signed the right-handed pitcher to a one-year, $1.5 million contract Friday.

During a Friday afternoon conference call, general manager Rick Hahn said that Turner, 24, will enter Spring Training with a chance to compete for a spot in the White Sox starting rotation. As of now, the White Sox have left-handers Chris Sale, Jose Quintana, John Danks and Carlos Rodon, as well as young hurlers such as Erik Johnson, Frankie Montas and now Turner in the mix for that fifth spot.

"We feel very good about where he is from a health standpoint right now and where he is in his offseason program," said Hahn of Turner. "We think he could provide us with another opportunity in the rotation come Opening Day.

"If for some reason that doesn't work out or we go a different direction, then we do think he has the strong potential to help us out of the bullpen as well. It's a guy who we have targeted for a while and now that he is healthy, we're happy to have him and he will be very much in the mix for a spot on the roster."

Turner, acquired off waivers from the Cubs, spent 2015 rehabbing from a strained flexor tendon in his right elbow. He has not pitched in the big leagues since '14, when he appeared in 20 games for the Marlins and eight games for the Cubs.

Scott Merkin is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Merk's Works, follow him on Twitter @scottmerkin, on Facebook and listen to his podcast.
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