Jordan Romano will meet with the media for the first time after signing with the Phillies Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. ET. You can watch the stream below:
DALLAS — Dave Dombrowski and the Phillies' front office arrived at the Hilton Anatole this weekend for MLB's Winter Meetings and quickly checked one item off their offseason list, signing former Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano to a one-year contract.
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The deal is worth $8.5 million and Romano can earn an additional $500,000 if he makes at least 60 appearances, according to The Athletic.
Romano, who saved 95 games for the Toronto Blue Jays from 2021-23, fills a bullpen void. The Phillies lost Jeff Hoffman and Carlos Estevez to free agency and needed more to supplement relievers Matt Strahm and Orion Kerkering.
Romano posted a 2.37 ERA from 2021-23 as Toronto's closer. In the four seasons leading up to 2024, his opponents hit just .172.
He missed ample time last season, not pitching after May 29 because of issues with his right elbow. He spent time on the injured list twice, received multiple cortisone shots and underwent arthroscopic surgery for an elbow impingement in early July.
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Just five days ago, Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins told reporters he had "no concerns" about Romano's health. "I feel like he will be back physically. We have no medical concerns," Atkins said.
The Phillies are betting on him bouncing back. The Blue Jays non-tendered Romano on November 22 rather than go through the arbitration process, where he was likely to 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, purchased by the Rangers and eventually returned to the Blue Jays, where he became a two-time All-Star.
Romano, Kerkering, Strahm, Jose Alvarado, Tanner Banks and Jose Ruiz make up the Phillies' current bullpen picture. They still need to add multiple relievers, perhaps even another late-inning arm. The top available free-agent relievers are Hoffman, Estevez, Tanner Scott, Kenley Jansen and Kirby Yates.