The Phillies have reached a one-year agreement, pending a physical, with reliever. This move addresses a late-inning bullpen need by adding a right-hander who saved 95 games for the Toronto Blue Jays from 2021 to 2023.
The Phillies’ primary offseason priorities are bolstering the outfield and bullpen. After losing Jeff Hoffman and Carlos Estevez to free agency, they sought additional help to complement relievers Matt Strahm and Orion Kerkering.
Dave Dombrowski and the Phillies’ front office arrived at the Hilton Anatole this weekend and have already made progress by securing Romano, as first reported by PHLY’s Jim Salisbury on Monday afternoon.
Romano posted a 2.37 ERA from 2021-23 while serving as Toronto’s closer. Over the previous four seasons, opponents batted just .172 against him.
Though he missed significant time last season due to a right elbow injury, including not pitching after May 29, Romano received multiple cortisone shots and underwent arthroscopic surgery for an elbow impingement in early July.
The Phillies are confident in his recovery. The Blue Jays chose to non-tender Romano on November 22 instead of going through arbitration, where he was expected to earn between $7.5 million and $8 million.
Romano relies exclusively on a four-seam fastball, averaging 97 mph, and a slider in the upper 80s. Drafted by the Blue Jays in the 10th round of the 2014 draft from Oral Roberts University, he was later selected by the White Sox in the Rule 5 draft, bought by the Rangers, and eventually returned to the Blue Jays, where he became a two-time All-Star.
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