A few weeks in the past, the Blue Jays opted to not tender a contract to right-hander Jordan Romano, sending him to free company as an alternative of maintaining him round for his remaining season of membership management. However common supervisor Ross Atkins tells members of the media, together with Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic, that the Jays are “thinking about him and can be closely pursuing his return, and hope that that’s a possible actuality.”

Romano, 32 in April, had a powerful three-year run because the nearer in Toronto however is coming off a largely misplaced season. From 2021 to 2023, Romano racked up 95 saves for the Jays, tossing 186 innings with a 2.37 earned run common. He had a 30.3% strikeout charge, 9.2% stroll charge and 42.3% floor ball charge.

However in 2024, he was on and off the injured checklist as a consequence of irritation in his proper elbow. He solely made 15 appearances on the yr and had a bloated 6.59 ERA in that small pattern, solely placing out 21% of batters confronted. He underwent arthroscopic surgical procedure on that elbow in July and it was initially hoped that he might make a late-season return however that in the end didn’t come to cross.

Romano made a wage of $7.75MM in 2024 and MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projected him for a similar determine in 2025, since salaries nearly by no means go down within the arbitration system. After Romano’s tough 2024 marketing campaign, the Jays didn’t suppose it was price betting that a lot on a bounceback. Presumably, additionally they checked in with different golf equipment to evaluate commerce curiosity however couldn’t discover any keen to each have Romano round that value level and quit one thing notable in return.

His well being is a little bit of a query mark as he hasn’t pitched since Might, however Atkins says he doesn’t have any considerations going into 2025. Assuming Romano is wholesome, the Jays might actually use him, as their bullpen was an enormous a part of their struggles this yr. Toronto relievers posted a collective 4.82 ERA in 2024, a mark that was higher than simply the Rockies. With the membership trying to rebound in 2025, a stronger bullpen can be a needed step.

Bringing Romano again might be part of that, although it’s going to naturally be at a decrease wage than he made final yr. Kirby Yates is one other former nearer who had some harm issues and he signed a $4.5MM take care of the Rangers final winter. It’s not an ideal comparability since Yates was going into his age-37 season, however he had at the very least completed the prior season wholesome. After lacking a lot of the 2020 via 2022 seasons as a consequence of accidents, he made 61 appearances in 2023 with a 3.28 ERA. Romano can be far youthful than Yates however with newer harm troubles. Yates additionally signed a $5.5MM take care of the Jays going into 2021, his age-34 season, after being harm for a lot of 2020. However he ended up present process Tommy John surgical procedure and lacking that total season. Greg Holland was one in all baseball’s high closers earlier than lacking all of 2016 recovering from Tommy John surgical procedure, then signing a $7MM take care of the Rockies going into 2017.

Maybe these offers recommend that Romano might earn one thing a bit beneath his 2024 wage, possibly with incentives primarily based on his well being. At that value vary, nearly any membership might get entangled. Even groups with sturdy bullpens can bump out the man lowest on the pecking order, so Romano figures to have widespread curiosity if Atkins’ evaluation of his well being is right. The Jays determine to be one of many golf equipment most motivated so as to add aid assist, primarily based on how final yr went. Maybe Romano would welcome a return since he was born and raised in Markham, simply outdoors Toronto, and has spent his total huge league profession with the Jays. Nevertheless, he ought to have loads of different choices to think about.