Phillies find late-inning bullpen help from former Jays closer. Romano originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
DALLAS – Pending a physical, the Phillies have agreed to a one-year deal with free-agent reliever Jordan Romano, filling a late-inning bullpen hole with a right-hander who saved 95 games for the Toronto Blue Jays 2021-23 .
The Phillies’ top offseason needs are help in the outfield and bullpen. They lost Jeff Hoffman and Carlos Estevez to free agency and needed more to complement relievers Matt Strahm and Orion Kerkering.
Dave Dombrowski and the Phils’ front office arrived at the Hilton Anatole this weekend and, along with Romano, checked one item off their list. PHLY’s Jim Salisbury first reported Monday afternoon that a deal was close.
Romano posted a 2.37 ERA from 2021-2023 as Toronto’s closer. In the four seasons leading up to 2024, his opponents hit just .172.
He missed significant time last season and did not pitch after May 29 due to problems with his right elbow. He was listed twice as injured, received multiple cortisone injections and underwent arthroscopic surgery in early July for an elbow impingement.
The Phillies are betting on him to bounce back. The Blue Jays non-tendered Romano on Nov. 22 in lieu of going through the arbitration process, where he would likely earn between $7.5 million and $8 million.
Romano throws exclusively a four-seam fastball and slider, with the heater averaging 97 and the slider in the upper 80s. He was originally drafted by the Blue Jays in the 10th round in 2014 out of Oral Roberts University, but was selected by the White Sox in the Rule 5 draft, acquired by the Rangers and eventually returned to the Blue Jays, where he became a two-player. time All-Star.
