Toronto Blue Jays Non-Tender All-Star Closer Jordan Romano

The Toronto Blue Jays have opted not to tender a contract to their closer, Jordan Romano, according to a report by Jeff Passan of ESPN. The decision comes after Romano, a two-time All-Star, was projected to command a $7.75 million salary in his final year of arbitration. By non-tendering Romano, the Blue Jays have allowed him to enter free agency without first being placed on waivers.

Romano’s potential salary was a significant factor in this decision, particularly after a tumultuous 2024 season marred by injury. The 31-year-old right-handed pitcher appeared in only 15 games, surrendering 10 runs over 13 and two-thirds innings. A throwing elbow impingement forced him to undergo arthroscopic surgery in early July, which sidelined him for the remainder of the season. Although the Blue Jays initially hoped for his return in September, their subsequent exit from playoff contention rendered such a comeback unnecessary.

Despite these challenges, Romano remains an interesting option for teams seeking to bolster their bullpen. His performance between 2021 and 2023 was exceptional, during which he amassed 103 saves, including back-to-back seasons with 36 saves each in 2022 and 2023. Over the same timeframe, he consistently maintained a sub-3.00 earned run average, while posting a 2.37 ERA over 186 innings. Romano struck out more than 30 percent of the batters he faced while keeping his walk rate to a manageable 9.2 percent.

The Blue Jays’ bullpen already faced scrutiny after ranking 29th in Major League Baseball with a 4.82 ERA, surpassed only by the Colorado Rockies. Romano’s departure exacerbates Toronto’s need to reinforce their relief pitching, as they have also non-tendered another bullpen member, which opens up additional space. Internal candidates such as (unnamed) are poised to step into leverage roles; however, it is expected that General Manager Ross Atkins and his team will be actively seeking reinforcement in the form of multiple back-end arms over the upcoming weeks.