The Phillies took a few gambles last offseason, and while some were low-risk swings that didn’t connect, one move in particular ended up being a clear miss: the signing of former Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano.
Romano’s stint in Philadelphia never got off the ground. The veteran right-hander struggled from the jump and never found his footing in a Phillies uniform.
By the end of the season, he was on the injured list and never made it back to the mound. Now, after just one season in Philly, Romano is heading west to try and reset his career.
According to reports, Romano has agreed to a one-year, $2 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels - a team that’s been leaning into reclamation projects this offseason. And make no mistake, Romano fits that mold.
Let’s be honest: his 2025 campaign was rough. In 49 appearances for the Phillies, Romano posted an 8.23 ERA - a number that tells the story all on its own.
His -1.7 bWAR reflects just how much he struggled to contribute in a meaningful way. While there were occasional flashes of the pitcher he used to be, they were few and far between.
Eventually, the Phillies had to pull the plug.
That’s a far cry from the pitcher Romano was north of the border. From 2019 to 2024, he was a steady force in the Blue Jays bullpen, putting up a 2.90 ERA across 231 appearances.
For a while, he was one of the more reliable late-inning arms in the American League. But the wheels started to come off in 2024, when he logged just 15 appearances for Toronto and posted a 6.59 ERA.
The Phillies hoped they could help him rediscover his form - instead, things only got worse.
Now 32, Romano will get a fresh start in Anaheim, joining an Angels bullpen that’s undergoing a bit of a makeover. It’s a low-risk signing for the Angels, and for Romano, it’s a shot to prove he’s still got something left in the tank. If he can tap back into the form he showed in Toronto, this could be one of those under-the-radar moves that pays off.
As for the Phillies, Romano marks the first notable free agent departure this winter. The club still has several key names on the market - including J.T. Realmuto, Harrison Bader, Ranger Suárez, and Max Kepler - though they did lock up Kyle Schwarber on a five-year, $150 million deal.
Romano’s time in Philadelphia didn’t go as planned, but baseball’s full of second (and third) chances. The Angels are giving him one. Now it’s up to Romano to make the most of it.