The Philadelphia Phillies have signed Jordan Romano for one year, with a deal exceeding $7.75 million, according to The Athletic.
Romano, 31, recently became a free agent after the Blue Jays decided not to renew his contract. He was an impressive closer from 2021-23 but faced elbow issues last season that required surgery. Before his injury, he had a challenging time on the mound with a 6.59 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in just 15 games.
Despite recent struggles, Romano has shown great potential in past seasons with a 2.37 ERA and 1.09 WHIP over three years and striking out 230 batters in 186 innings.
Phillies’ Bullpen Dynamics:
Last season, the Phillies had a strong bullpen lineup; however, Jeff Hoffman is now exploring free agency alongside Carlos Estévez, who handled most of the save opportunities towards the end of the season for Philadelphia.
Currently, it seems Romano will fill Estévez’s shoes unless they decide to re-sign him. Romano and Orion Kerkering are likely candidates for late-inning roles from the right side while José Ruiz waits as backup. On the left side of things, Matt Strahm returns after an outstanding performance last year and Tanner Banks showed promise during his late-season appearances.
Fans might be wondering if this new mix will bring more wins or just more drama to their favorite team!
José Alvarado adds another layer of intrigue with his powerful throws; however, his ERA jumped from an excellent 1.74 in 2023 to a concerning 4.09 last season due to fewer strikeouts and increased walks. While Alvarado’s stellar performance in 2023 could be seen as an anomaly given relievers’ unpredictable nature, he’s still capable of being top-notch throughout an entire season.
In essence, this group—Romano, Alvarado, Kerkering, and Strahm—holds significant promise but also carries risks which means Phillies might need further reinforcements for their bullpen squad.
What do you think about these changes? Will they help or hinder Philly’s chances next season?
