Phillies MLB Offseason Profiles: Jordan Romano
Dave Dombrowski and the Philadelphia Phillies seemed poised to make a major splash when the MLB offseason began.
A veteran roster with a shrinking World Series window, a future Hall of Fame executive running the front office, and an owner with deep pockets in a large, demanding media market seemed like the perfect formula for hot stove headlines.
Instead, the Phillies added a trio of veterans who collectively showed tremendous upside in 2023 that dipped during injury-plagued seasons in 2024. Will these less expensive, short-term acquisitions keep them atop the National League East and in championship contention?
- Jordan Romano
- Jesus Luzardo (coming soon)
- Max Kepler (coming soon)
Jordan Romano
The Phillies signed right-handed reliever Jordan Romano to a one-year contract worth $8.5 million during the MLB Winter Meetings.
The 6-foot-5 fireballer ascended into the top tier of MLB closers from 2021-2023. He averaged 61 appearances per season and saved 95 total games for the Toronto Blue Jays.
His 2.37 ERA ranked seventh among qualified MLB relief pitchers during that span.
The 2024 season went south for the two-time reigning MLB All-Star in his prime, however. Romano spent the early weeks of the regular season on the injured list and pushed his debut back to April 16.
He surrendered 10 runs in only 13 ⅔ innings through May 29, his last appearance of the season.
If the Blue Jays had stayed in contention in the American League Wild Card race, their closer might’ve pushed to return from his elbow surgery by September.
Instead, an Ontario native who had finished in the top five in saves in two consecutive seasons had thrown his last game for Toronto.
Romano will search for a better rhythm in 2025 with fellow Canadian and Toronto Maple Leafs fanatic Rob Thomson in the dugout at Citizens Bank Park.
“We played a two-game series there (with the Blue Jays at Citizens Bank Park). It was in May (2024). It was a midweek series. It was a 1:00 game. That place was packed, going crazy. As an opposing player, it’s tougher to pitch in those spots. I was talking to a couple guys in the bullpen. I was like, ‘This would be pretty awesome if we were on the home side here.’… I know the (Philadelphia) fans are super passionate. They have a high standard for performance. Honestly, where I’m at now, that’s all the things I’m looking for.” -Jordan Romano on The Phillies Show
Fit With The Phillies
Romano throws a four-seam fastball in the 96-97 mile per hour range. He mixes in a slider roughly 50% of the time as essentially the only other pitch in his arsenal he’ll use. He has consistently ranked in the top tier of major league pitchers in strikeout rate and whiff rate in recent seasons.
Jeff Hoffman and Carlos Estevez will almost certainly leave the Phillies in free agency this winter. Romano and Orion Kerkering will step in to throw the high-leverage innings that the pair of righties pitched in 2024.
Related Content: Where Do Phillies Stand in MLB Offseason After Jesús Luzardo Trade?
Jose Alvarado and Matt Strahm will also enter spring training as the preferred high-leverage lefties at the back end of the Phillies bullpen.
Romano and Max Kepler both signed one-year deals for the 2025 season. Dombrowski spoke about the contracts as a way for the two players to bet on themselves after down seasons to drive up their value before reentering free agency next winter.
“Actually, both of them preferred those deals because they feel that they can go back out and show that they can have good quality years and hopefully get long-term contracts at big numbers from other places. Maybe it’s with us, who knows?” -Dave Dombrowski
The Phillies went down with a whimper in the National League Division Series. The front office didn’t inspire much optimism while other major market teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, and New York Yankees made expensive, high-profile additions.
How can the Phillies keep pace with other World Series contenders that improved their rosters drastically during the MLB offseason arms race? The one-year gambles like Jordan Romano can outperform their expectations and prove themselves as major contributors and free agent bargains.
All advanced numbers according of StatCast (unless otherwise noted)
