Phillies add Jordan Romano to the bullpen mix in the late inning on a 1-year deal

DALLAS — To bolster their bullpen, the Phillies have turned to Jordan Romano — an intriguing right-hander with upside who carries some risk.

The Phillies agreed to terms with Romano on a one-year contract on Monday, major league sources said The athlete. Romano, who turns 32 in April, is expected to take on a late-inning role for the Phillies as he looks to restore his value as one of the better relievers in the sport. The deal is still pending.

Both sides are making a bet that Romano can prove he’s healthy — and just as effective as he has been the last three years.

Romano became a free agent last month when his former team, the Toronto Blue Jays, declined to offer him a contract through salary arbitration. He had evolved in the Blue Jays organization from a late 10th-round pick to a lockdown closer, posting a 2.37 ERA with 95 saves from 2021 to 2023.

But Romano had elbow problems in 2024. He did not appear in a game after May 29. He had a 6.59 ERA in 13 2/3 innings on the season. He was on the injured list twice for elbow inflammation and then underwent arthroscopic surgery for elbow impingement on July 3. Toronto had hoped Romano could return before the end of the 2024 season if the club was in contention. That didn’t happen.

The Phillies gave Romano a physical on Monday and determined he was healthy and worth the investment. Romano was awarded nearly $8 million in salary through arbitration; Toronto thought it was too expensive.

When Romano is correct, he relies on a snappy slider and has a fastball that averages 97 mph. During that strong three-year stretch, he averaged 62 innings per season. The Canadian native was a popular figure in Toronto among fans and his teammates.

Romano joins a late-inning Phillies bullpen mix that includes righty Orion Kerkering and lefties Matt Strahm and Jose Alvarado. Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski had prioritized a bullpen addition while saying he might get just one reliever to replace free agents Jeff Hoffman and Carlos Estévez if they depart.

This calculus could change given the shorter terms of the Romano Treaty. The Phillies remain interested in reuniting with Hoffman; It’s unclear whether they can find a match. The Phillies are still looking for an outfielder and have had trade discussions with various clubs that could shake up the roster.

It’s not the largest guaranteed contract in professional sports history. But for the Phillies, the Romano deal is the start of an offseason with more transactions to come.

(Photo by Jordan Romano: Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)