DALLAS — The Phillies are betting on Jordan Romano‘s return to dominance in 2025.
Sources told MLB.com on Monday afternoon at the Winter Meetings that the Phillies and Romano have agreed to a one-year contract, which is pending a physical. Romano, 31, was one of baseball’s best closers from 2021-23 before suffering a right elbow injury last season. The Blue Jays non-tendered Romano following the season, although they said his medicals were OK.
Romano had been projected to make more than $7 million in salary arbitration.
Romano posted a 2.37 ERA, saved 95 games and made two AL All-Star teams from 2021-23, striking out 230 and walking 70 in 186 innings. He posted an MLB-best 7.4 WAR among relievers in those three years, according to Baseball Reference. (Milwaukee’s Devin Williams ranked second with 6.3 WAR.)
But Romano suffered an elbow injury this year and he did not pitch after May 29. He had arthroscopic surgery on his elbow in July.
It is unclear if this move brings an end to the Phillies tenure of Carlos Estévez and Jeff Hoffman. Both pitched in the ninth inning for Philadelphia last season, but both are also free agents. That Romano is looking to re-establish himself as one of the game’s top closers might allow the Phils to make room for another right-handed reliever, though.
Last week, Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said they would likely acquire only one righty reliever to complement a group that includes left-handers Matt Strahm, José Alvarado and Tanner Banks, and right-handers Orion Kerkering and José Ruiz.
