Ex-Toronto Blue Jays closer Romano might be near the end of MLB career
When the Toronto Blue Jays signed Jeff Hoffman to be their closer, they were hoping he’d provide some stability to their bullpen.
Hoffman’s seven blown saves — and the same number of losses — have shown that hasn’t exactly been the case, as he’s struggled to reach the heights that he hit as an All-Star in 2024 with the Philadelphia Phillies.
But as tough as some of Hoffman’s stretches have been this season, they pale in comparison to who he’s replaced.
The Blue Jays cut ties with Jordan Romano last November, only for him to end up with Hoffman’s old team in Philadelphia. A popular figure and a Markham native, many fans were surprised to see him depart from the organization.
From a team perspective, he found a good home: the Phillies have the second-best record in baseball, trailing only the Milwaukee Brewers. But it’s hardly any thanks to a season to forget from Romano.
Currently sidelined with a finger injury that has put him out of action since Aug. 25, Romano faces an uncertain future as to whether he’ll even be in the MLB next season.
In just one season, he’s given up 39 earned runs in 49 games in Philadelphia, more than half the 74 he gave up in 231 games across six seasons with Toronto. He’s posted an 8.23 ERA in 42.2 innings.
His -1.7 Wins Above Replacement is the second-worst in the major leagues. Whatever was ailing him: mental struggles, command, and a few minor injuries, it’s safe to say that Toronto made the right call moving on from him when they did.
Any way you slice it, it hasn’t been pretty for Romano in his first MLB season away from his hometown team.
What’s next for the former Blue Jays closer?
Romano is on a one-year, $8.5-million deal with the Phillies, with no real certainty that he’ll pitch in the majors the rest of this year — or moving forward.
He’s currently expected to be on a rehab assignment in the minor leagues, with the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs having 10 games left in their regular season. If all goes well, Romano could make it back for some of the Phillies’ remaining 16 games.
“Just come back, have a good finish,” Romano said recently, as per Phillies Nation’s Ty Daubert. “The season obviously didn’t go how I wanted it, but I’m just kind of looking ahead, looking forward. I can’t change that, so just going to try to finish strong.”
It’d be hard to imagine Romano sticking around in Philadelphia after this year, given how poorly this year has played out. But with only a few weeks left to get perhaps another few innings out, Romano seems to be inclined to give it a final go.
“I just need to, I guess, physically feel good,” Romano added. “And as long as the bullpen [sessions] keep going well and I keep progressing there, I think I should be on the right track.”
And however the postseason goes for the Phillies, it’s unlikely they’ll bet on Romano much, if at all, during it.
This offseason probably won’t be a fun one for Romano either, as 32-year-old struggling relievers aren’t always the types of bets that major league teams are willing to make. For some pitchers, the best medicine is a bit of time away from affiliated baseball, instead working on their craft either on an independent team or by themselves on the mound to regain their form.
For most longtime Blue Jays fans who are still rooting for a former player, they’ll probably be hoping to see Romano find some success again. But for the Jays’ sake, they’ll likely be secretly planning that if he’s able to find his form again, the next step in the journey is still in another team’s uniform.