No one is suggesting that the Blue Jays will be getting rid of the lively walk-in music for their Canadian closer, Jordan Romano—at least not yet. However, general manager Ross Atkins isn’t particularly excited about the idea of Romano returning as the ninth-inning pitcher while he recovers from elbow surgery performed in early July.
Atkins made it clear earlier this week that, given Romano’s troubled 2024 season, his role as closer is at risk. He stated, “I don’t know,” when asked about his closer for 2025, indicating that other players on the roster could take on that role, even if Romano is the only one with prior experience as a closer after holding that position for the last three seasons. While Chad Green is also a potential late-inning option, he isn’t viewed as a reliable shutdown candidate.
Romano’s inconsistent performance, which included a season starting and ending on the injured list, has prompted Atkins to consider other options to ensure sufficient depth in the bullpen. From his comments, it’s evident that the Jays will take a cautious approach in determining where the 31-year-old fits into the bullpen next season.
Atkins expressed that Romano must return to his previous pitching form, noting the disappointment of him only appearing in 15 games in 2024. “I don’t want to just lay my head on the pillow and say ‘OK, that’s covered.’ I want to be open to it,” Atkins said, emphasizing that Romano’s recovery will dictate his future.
When questioned about Romano’s contract status, particularly since he is arbitration eligible, Atkins remained intentionally vague, stating, “I’m not going to comment on contract status.”
The bullpen is a significant priority for the Jays after a challenging 2024 season characterized by injuries and poor performance, which contributed to the team’s struggles in the American League East. Given this context, Atkins cannot simply hand the closer role back to Romano until they evaluate his recovery from surgery.
Romano himself has acknowledged the difficulties he faced this season, starting with an injury during spring training. While he showed some promise upon his return in April, he struggled to regain the dominant form that made him the go-to closer in previous seasons. After six weeks, he was back on the injured list, and his July surgery addressed an impingement in his right elbow, ultimately leading to his season’s end.
Atkins recognized the need for some sort of bullpen overhaul, especially after witnessing its decline from a strength to a liability. He also stressed the importance of preventing injuries, as key pitchers like Yimi Garcia, Chad Green, Erik Swanson, and Romano all dealt with injuries during the past season.
“Last year, coming off such a successful year and returning that group seemed like a very solid play,” Atkins reflected. “None of us expected the level of injuries that we had.” He emphasized the necessity of improving injury prevention and being more proactive in seeking external additions this year.
The first step taken was parting ways with assistant pitching coach Jeff Ware, who primarily worked with the bullpen. Could this signal the end for the Canadian closer?
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