The Philadelphia Phillies have signed closer Jordan Romano to a one-year contract worth $8.5 million, taking a short-term chance that the right-handed pitcher can recover from a right elbow injury.
The deal, announced by the Phillies on Monday, includes an additional $500,000 for Romano if he pitches at least 60 innings.
Romano, an All-Star in 2022 and 2023, spent his first six seasons in Major League Baseball with the Toronto Blue Jays. He has 105 career saves and a 2.90 ERA in 231 relief appearances.
Among the 17 pitchers in the majors who have had at least 100 save opportunities since 2019, Romano has the second-best save percentage at 88.98%, just behind Josh Hader (187 for 210, 89.04%). Romano’s 105 saves rank ninth among all pitchers in baseball since 2019.
The 31-year-old Romano had a limited season last year, saving just eight games in 15 appearances. He had arthroscopic surgery on his elbow in July.
Romano was let go by Toronto last month when the team chose not to offer him a contract that would have made him eligible for arbitration.
“Everyone loves him,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “I spoke to him after we non-tendered him, and he understood it. Very professional about it. I haven’t heard back from him yet today, but he was great. He was kind of what we stood for in how he went about his business, the teammate that he was, the intensity in which he competed with.”
Romano’s signing might lead to the departure of one or both of Carlos Estévez and Jeff Hoffman from Philadelphia. Both former All-Star relievers closed games for the Phillies last season but struggled badly in the postseason. Both players are free agents.
