Jordan Romano Says Pitching in Front of Packed CBP on Wednesday Afternoon Made Phillies Attractive

Managing Editor

Tuesday, December 10, 2024

May 8, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Jordan Romano (68) throws a pitch during the ninth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports Bill Streicher

Jordan Romano did more than just record a save for the Toronto Blue Jays against the Phillies on May 8. He took notice of the 34,681 fans in attendance at Citizens Bank Park for a 1:05 start time on a Wednesday afternoon.

He remembered that when he became a free agent after the being non-tendered by the Blue Jays last month. And he cited the environment at Citizens Bank Park as one of the reasons that the Phillies were an attractive team to sign with, a day after inking a one-year/$8.5 million deal to put on red pinstripes.

"I remember we played there last year and I think it was a Tuesday or Wednesday day game," Romano recalled on a Zoom call with media members Tuesday. "And I mean, the place was absolutely sold out. The atmosphere ... I mean, just electric. And kind of coming off that series, I was always like 'If I ever got the chance to play here, I think I'd really enjoy it.'"

Romano — who will turn 32 early in the 2025 season — was obviously also drawn by an organization that's reached the playoffs in three consecutive years and will likely be among the World Series favorites entering next campaign.

"Another thing is I think there's a standard in Philly," Romano said. "A standard with the players ... I guess the city, the fans. It's a high level of performance, a lot of expectations to win. And I feel like I have the same expectations myself. So I feel like those views are aligned there. And I guess thirdly, just the team in general ... just talent everywhere. It's a team built to win the World Series. So I felt like it would be a great spot for me to go join and help contribute to wins."

2024 was a frustrating season for Romano, who was limited to just 15 appearances because of right elbow inflammation. He ultimately had what turned out to be season-ending arthroscopic surgery in late July. But he says post-surgery he ramped back up to the point where he could throw off a mound, and did that last Friday, throwing in the mid-90s in his first bullpen session. Over the next month, Romano will ease up a bit, as pitchers typically do in the offseason. He's going to continue building up his strength, "tuning up the slider, getting command and delivery back in line" and then resume throwing bullpens in January to ramp up before the season.

Certainly, there's a gamble in signing someone with the recent health record of Romano. If he makes a few appearances for the Phillies before having to undergo a major procedure on his elbow — like David Robertson back in 2019 — president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski is going to have egg on his face.

But it doesn't take a ton of research to convince yourself about how good of a signing this could be if Romano stays healthy. Between 2020 and 2023, Romano posted a 2.29 ERA across 199 appearances. From 2021-2023, he recorded 95 saves. He was an All-Star in both 2022 and 2023.

Time will tell how this signing ages, but it's not hard to see what the Phillies liked about Romano. Manager Rob Thomson told MLB.com's Todd Zolecki that the Phillies didn't promise Romano anything other than the chance to pitch in high-leverage spots. If all goes well, though, he could definitely seize the bulk of the ninth inning opportunities, one would think. And if he pitches 60 innings in 2025, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic says he'll get a $500,000 bonus.

I dig the Jordan Romano to the Phillies move. For 1 year, around $8M? It’s a GREAT deal.

It’s a low-risk, high reward signing. Philly needed an elite-velo, SL heavy RHP in their pen.

His ceiling in this market? Possible steal. pic.twitter.com/wfdVP9sjOd
— Sam Fosberg (@discussbaseball) December 9, 2024

The two prior Phillies connections that Romano has are interesting, because neither is guaranteed to be with the team in 2025.

Jeff Hoffman was taken No. 9 overall in the 2014 MLB Draft by the Blue Jays, nine rounds before they selected Romano. It's unclear after signing Romano how much the Phillies are still in play for Hoffman, who seems likely to command at least a three-year deal.

Taijuan Walker was traded from the Seattle Mariners to the Blue Jays during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, when Romano was pitching in just his second season. Romano recalled how well Walker treated him and all the young arms in Toronto, and talked about how he was looking forward to being teammates with him again. Whether that ultimately happens or not might be dependent on if Walker's offseason program helps him to show any progress in Spring Training after a dreadful 2024 that saw him post a 7.10 ERA across 83 2/3 innings pitched.

Whether Hoffman and/or Walker are back, Romano figures to get acquainted with Phillies fans in short order. Maybe even on a Wednesday afternoon.