Breaking: Former Blue Jays Closer Jordan Romano Chooses His 2025 Destination

After being non-tendered by the Toronto Blue Jays, their former elite closer Jordan Romano became an unrestricted free agent this fall. He has now found a new home in the NL East.

Every year, the Philadelphia Phillies are looking to upgrade their bullpen. This year, Romano is the man. He signs a one-year deal in Philly.

Source confirms: Free-agent right-hander Jordan Romano in agreement with Phillies on one-year deal above his projected arbitration number of $7.75M, pending physical. First: @JeffPassan
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 9, 2024

Romano saved 95 games in a three-year stretch for Toronto from 2021 through 2023, and overall had a 2.90 ERA with 11.2 strikeouts per nine innings across his 228 innings and six seasons with his hometown team.

Romano is betting on himself with a one-year deal that he can return to being that dominant closer he was as recently as 2023, before injuries foiled his 2024 campaign. He's a two-time All-Star and saved 36 games in both 2022 and '23 for the team he grew up watching in Toronto.

The Phillies have a late-inning mix that is likely to lose Jeff Hoffman and Carlos Estévez in free agency, so Romano now heads up a crew that includes righty Orion Kerkering and lefties Matt Strahm and José Alvarado.