In a surprising move that has shaken up the baseball world, the Philadelphia Phillies have signed right-handed pitcher Jordan Romano, an All-Star reliever previously with the Toronto Blue Jays. This signing comes amid a tumultuous stretch for the Phillies’ bullpen, which had been a source of concern during the postseason and beyond. With an $8.5 million, one-year contract, and an additional $500,000 in performance incentives for making at least 60 appearances, Romano’s arrival is a calculated gamble that the Phillies hope will pay significant dividends.
Jordan Romano, despite facing setbacks in 2024, including a season-ending elbow surgery in July, brings a wealth of experience and success to the Phillies. Over the course of his career, the 30-year-old reliever has developed into one of the league’s most reliable closers. He boasts a career ERA of 2.90 and has successfully converted 105 of 118 save opportunities in his 231 relief appearances. Romano’s potential to return to his previous All-Star form is undoubtedly one of the key factors in the Phillies’ decision to pursue him.
Romano’s signing comes after a year of inconsistency for the Phillies’ bullpen. Key contributors such as Jeff Hoffman and Carlos Estévez had departed in free agency, leaving the team with a significant void in their relief corps. The 2024 postseason further highlighted these struggles, with late-inning breakdowns that contributed to the team’s inability to clinch the ultimate prize. In light of this, the Phillies were eager to strengthen their bullpen, and Romano, even with the injury concerns, was viewed as a low-risk, high-reward option.
The signing is also a response to the broader needs of the Phillies’ roster. As the team looks to build on its 2024 success and make another run at the World Series, adding a player like Romano provides depth and reliability in key situations. If Romano returns to form, he could anchor the late innings of games, offering a stabilizing presence for a bullpen that had struggled in high-leverage moments last season.
Romano is expected to join an already impressive bullpen that includes Matt Strahm, a versatile All-Star, Orion Kerkering, and left-handed power arms in José Alvarado and Gregory Soto. This mixture of veteran experience and young talent gives the Phillies a balanced and formidable late-inning group, with Romano providing another established presence. His potential to contribute not just in the regular season but also in high-pressure postseason situations is a major reason why the Phillies were willing to invest in him.
The move also aligns with the Phillies’ broader strategy of capitalizing on low-cost, high-upside players. With the financial commitment to other key pieces of the roster, the team is focused on bolstering specific areas of need without overextending their payroll. Romano, if healthy and effective, could offer excellent value for the price, potentially becoming a fixture in the bullpen for multiple seasons.
Ultimately, the signing of Jordan Romano is a bold and strategic decision by the Philadelphia Phillies. It reflects the team’s desire to shore up their bullpen and prepare for another championship run. While the injury concerns around Romano cannot be ignored, his proven track record suggests he has the potential to be a difference-maker for the team in the 2025 season and beyond.