Jordan Romano is leaving home.
After being non-tendered by the Toronto Blue Jays, the closer from Markham, Ont., agreed to a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Phillies, according to multiple reports on Monday.
While Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said earlier this month the team would be “heavily pursuing” the reliever’s return, Romano has decided to take his talents elsewhere.
The Athletic‘s Ken Rosenthal reported the deal is for above Romano’s projected arbitration number of $7.75 million.
Romano joins a Phillies team that could lose Jeff Hoffman and Carlos Estevez to free agency.
Romano made just 15 appearances for the Blue Jays in 2024 before undergoing arthroscopic surgery in his throwing elbow, which eventually sidelined him for the remainder of the season.
Atkins said last week he was confident Romano could return to full health.
“I feel like he will be back physically. We have no medical concerns,” Atkins said.
When healthy, Romano served as a reliable reliever, eventually becoming the Blue Jays’ closer in 2020 and earning back-to-back All-Star appearances in 2022 and 2023.
In 2022, Romano finished third in the American League with 36 saves on 42 opportunities, owning a 2.11 ERA with 73 strikeouts and 21 walks — a career-best season for which Romano earned the Tip O’Neill Award as the best Canadian-born baseball player by the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.
He followed up in 2023 with 36 saves and a 2.90 ERA across 59 innings.
Through 229.2 innings with the Blue Jays, Romano owns a career 2.90 ERA with 105 saves and a 20-17 record.
