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Ditching Romano looking like a wise decision for Toronto Blue Jays

Colton Pankiw
Colton Pankiw
|
Apr 23 2025, 8:51 pm
Ditching Romano looking like a wise decision for Toronto Blue Jays
Eric Hartline/Imagn Images

There are plenty of decisions fans can be upset with Toronto Blue Jays management about, but cutting bait with Jordan Romano isn’t one of them.

GM Ross Atkins and his staff chose to non-tender Romano, who spent the first six seasons of his career in a Blue Jays uniform. The 32-year-old reliever was a two-time All-Star over that span, though injury concerns in 2024, which limited him to just 13.2 innings, suggested he may no longer be the same calibre of player.

Romano chose to sign a one-year, $8.5-million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies in free agency, and though many in Toronto were sad to see him go, it appears to be a bullet dodged by the front office.

Romano has had a horrendous start to the season with the Phillies, having already blown two saves while giving up three home runs through just 8.2 innings. He currently has a 13.50 ERA on the season and, if things stay this way for much longer, could risk being waived.

After giving up six earned runs in a game where he was called on to protect an 11-4 lead over the Miami Marlins on Saturday, Romano was called upon today by the Phillies in extra innings, and, with the bases loaded, allowed a bloop single to Starling Marte, which allowed Pete Alonso to score the game-winning run.

The Jays instead elected to replace Romano with Jeff Hoffman, whom they signed to a three-year, $30-million deal. That also appears to have been a wise decision, as Hoffman has been excellent so far, picking up five saves while posting a 1.59 ERA with 16 strikeouts through 11.1 innings.

While fans in Toronto will certainly be rooting for Romano to turn things around, they should be relieved that management went in a different direction in the offseason.

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