Glew: Romano says Jays' decision to non-tender him was "a little surprising"
Ontario Blue Jays and Junior National Team alum Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.) signed with the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday.
December 10, 2024
By Kevin Glew
Canadian Baseball Network
Jordan Romano found it “a little surprising” that the Toronto Blue Jays didn’t tender him a contract following the season.
“I guess I understand,” Romano said of the Blue Jays’ decision to non-tender him, in a Zoom call held by the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday to announce his one-year deal with the club.
“Last year was a tougher year for me. It was very frustrating. So maybe [it was] a little bit by surprise, but I guess it was in the back of my head after a poor season. But honestly it was tough to worry about that because it was just out of my control. Those decisions aren’t up to me.”
Romano (Markham, Ont.) signed a one-year, $8.5-million deal with the Phillies on Tuesday. The former Blue Jays closer can earn an additional $500,000 if he pitches 60 innings in 2025.
Another revelation from Tuesday’s Zoom call was that Romano preferred a one-year deal.
“I’m feeling healthy and good now, so I just wanted the one year to kind of get back out there and . . . prove my worth,” said Romano.
The 31-year-old reliever has made significant progress since undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow last July. He had been working his way up to throwing off the mound, which he accomplished last Friday. During that bullpen session, his velocity was in the mid-90s.
“Everything felt great,” said Romano.
For the next four weeks, the Canuck reliever is going to work on his strength, tuning up his slider and getting his command and delivery back in line before he resumes throwing bullpens again in January.
Romano, who recorded 105 saves in six seasons with the Blue Jays, said there were a number of factors that inspired him to sign with the Phillies. The “electric” atmosphere he experienced in a two-game series against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park last May was one.
“Another thing is that I think there is a standard in Philly with the players, the city and the fans, it’s a high level of performance, there are a lot of expectations to win, and I feel like I have the same expectations myself,” said Romano. “So, I feel like those views are aligned there. And I guess thirdly, the team in general, there’s just talent everywhere. It’s a team built to win the World Series, so I felt like it would be a great spot for me to go join and help contribute to wins.”
Romano has not had a detailed discussion with the Phillies about what his role will be in their bullpen, but he’ll join the back end of a pen that will include returning relievers Matt Strahm, Jose Alvarado and Gregory Soto, all of whom recorded saves last season.
“With this bullpen, there are a lot of guys that can close out games there,” said Romano. “I’m just kind of going in wherever I can help. If they want me to throw the ninth, I do love closing, and I have experience there and I’m happy to do it, but if they need me in other spots, too, I’m happy to do that . . . I’m kind of just there to get big outs wherever they need them.”
Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins had told Toronto baseball writers at a meeting last Tuesday that though he non-tendered Romano he would still be “heavily pursuing” the Canadian closer to bring him back.
The Blue Jays’ bullpen had a 4.82 ERA in 2024. It will need to improve dramatically in 2025 if the team is to have a shot at the post-season. Earlier in the off-season, the Blue Jays released left-hander Genesis Cabrera, but re-signed righty Erik Swanson. If the season were to start today, Chad Green, who had 17 saves in 2024, would be their closer.
A two-time All-Star, Romano posted a 6.59 ERA and registered eight saves in 15 appearances for the Blue Jays in 2024 before being sidelined in late May.
On April 22, he pitched the ninth inning against the Kansas City Royals in a 5-3 win to record his 100th career save. With that, he became just the fourth Canadian and fifth Blue Jay to reach that milestone.
In 59 games in 2023, Romano matched his career-high with 36 saves. The hard-throwing right-hander also had 36 saves in 2022 and earned the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame’s Tip O’Neill Award, as top Canuck player. In his three full seasons as Blue Jays closer, his ERA was never higher than 2.90.
Originally chosen in the 10th round of the MLB draft by the Blue Jays in 2014, the Ontario Blue Jays and Junior National Team alum is entering his seventh major league season.