Blue Jays Interested in Bringing Back Jordan Romano Despite Injury-Plagued Season

A few weeks ago, the Toronto Blue Jays decided not to tender a contract to right-hander Jordan Romano, allowing him to enter free agency instead of keeping him for his final season of club control. Despite this move, general manager Ross Atkins has stated that the Jays are "interested in him and will be heavily pursuing his return, and hope that that’s a potential reality," as reported by Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic.

Romano, who turns 32 in April, had a strong three-year stint as the closer for the Blue Jays from 2021 to 2023. During this period, he accumulated 95 saves, pitching 186 innings with an impressive 2.37 ERA, a 30.3% strikeout rate, a 9.2% walk rate, and a 42.3% ground ball rate.


However, the 2024 season was a challenging one for Romano, who struggled with right elbow inflammation. He made only 15 appearances and posted a 6.59 ERA, striking out just 21% of the batters he faced. Romano underwent arthroscopic surgery on his elbow in July and was unable to return for the remainder of the season.

Romano earned $7.75 million in 2024, and MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projected the same salary for 2025. Given his rough 2024 campaign, the Blue Jays were hesitant to bet on a rebound at that salary. They also explored trade options but found no teams willing to take on Romano at that price and offer something significant in return.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding Romano's health, Atkins has expressed confidence in his recovery and potential contribution in 2025. The Blue Jays' bullpen struggled significantly in 2024, posting a collective 4.82 ERA, which was only better than the Rockies. Strengthening the bullpen will be crucial for the team as they aim to rebound next season.

​Assuming Romano is healthy, he could provide much-needed stability to the Blue Jays' relief corps and help the team improve its performance in 2025.