The Philadelphia Phillies wasted little time making an impression at the MLB Winter Meetings, signing former Toronto Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano to a one-year, $8.5 million deal with an additional $500,000 in incentives if he reaches 60 innings pitched. The two-time All-Star is coming off an injury-plagued 2024 campaign in which Romano only made 15 appearances before undergoing season-ending arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow.
Jordan Romano deal is official. It’s one-year, $8.5 million. Not promised a closer’s role, but will get save opportunities no doubt. Dave Dombrowski said he is comfortable with bullpen at this point, although he wouldn’t completely rule out acquiring another reliever.
— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) December 9, 2024
The one-year deal became official after Romano passed his physical on Monday, and while the deal comes with risk due to the right-hander's recent injury history, Romano has saved 105 games and logged an impressive 2.90 ERA in 231 appearances during his six-year MLB career, including back-to-back seasons where he recorded 36 saves in 2022 and 2023. Non-tendered by the Blue Jays in late November, the Phillies certainly hope that Romano will be a bounce-back candidate for the team in 2025.
The Phillies entered this offseason with two of the team's most trusted high-leverage relievers opting for free agency. As expected, filling the void left behind by Jeff Hoffman and trade deadline acquisition Carlos Estévez pushed the Phillies into this year's free agent market for relief pitchers. With the addition of Romano, it remains to be seen if the Phillies will seek a reunion with either Hoffman or Estévez, or continue the search for replacements with a number of top-tier options still unsigned at this point in the offseason.
Phillies updated bullpen depth chart with Jordan Romano in the mix
With all of that in mind, how does the Phillies bullpen depth chart look after signing Romano? While president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski stopped short of naming Romano as the Phillies closer, it's possible the team could still employ a closer-by-committee situation again next season with a couple of candidates viewed as possibilities to save games for the Phillies next year. With Romano now in the mix, below is the updated bullpen depth chart heading into 2025.
Player | LHP/RHP |
|---|---|
Jordan Romano | RHP |
José Alvarado | LHP |
Matt Strahm | LHP |
Orion Kerkering | RHP |
José Ruiz | RHP |
Tanner Banks | LHP |
Tyler Gilbert | RHP |
Taijuan Walker | RHP |
Romano's signing doesn't exactly mean the Phillies are done shopping for relief help this offseason, but right now it appears that Romano will be the first in line for save opportunities in 2025 if his surgically repaired right elbow remains healthy.
Next in line for saves could be José Alvarado. Following a largely disappointing season in 2024, Alvarado does have plenty of experience closing games, with the hard-throwing lefty amassing 23 saves over the previous two seasons. But his control issues became a major problem at the worst possible time last summer, prompting the Phillies to swing a risky deal with the Los Angeles Angels for Carlos Estévez at the MLB trade deadline in July.
Replacing Jeff Hoffman's presence as a high-leverage reliever won't be easy, but the Phillies have two internal options who could fill the void next season: left-hander Matt Strahm and right-hander Orion Kerkering. Strahm put together an impressive 23-game scoreless streak during the first couple of months of the 2024 season, and that success helped propel the southpaw to his first career All-Star selection. Kerkering developed into a trusted late-inning weapon by season's end and the pair look likely to handle similar roles heading into 2025.
The Phillies also have left-hander Tanner Banks, who was acquired at the trade deadline in an attempt to fortify an unraveling Philadelphia bullpen. The Phillies tried Banks in a couple of different roles last season, and right now he appears to be slated for middle relief. In addition to Banks, the Phillies will also lean on last year's unsung hero, José Ruiz, to log quality relief innings in 2025. Ruiz enjoyed a breakout season with the Phillies last year, with a record of 5-1 and a solid 3.79 ERA, while adding one save in 51 innings.
Taijuan Walker's role for the Phillies in 2025 remains an intriguing storyline to watch this offseason. After recording the worst season by a Phillies pitcher in 30 years, the maligned right-hander will have to compete for a rotation spot in spring training after Dombrowski was honest about his status with the organization for next season. With $36 million remaining on his four-year, $72 million dollar deal, Walker looks likely to take on a low-leverage middle relief role in 2025. And with offseason additions still a possibility, pitchers like Walker and Tyler Gilbert look the part of placeholders on an incomplete Phillies roster.