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Baltimore Orioles Eyeing Toronto Blue Jays’ Jordan Romano to Strengthen Bullpen
The Baltimore Orioles have resurged to claim the top spot of the American League East, prompting them to explore avenues to fortify their bullpen. Among their considerations is a potential acquisition of Toronto Blue Jays’ closer, Jordan Romano.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Romano features prominently on the Orioles’ radar, alongside other noteworthy relievers like St. Louis Cardinals’ Ryan Helsley and Houston Astros’ Ryan Pressly. It is emphasized that the Orioles would only pursue these targets if their respective teams opt to offload players prior to the trade deadline.
Dealing with substantial setbacks in their bullpen, the Orioles endured the absence of star closer Felix Bautista following Tommy John surgery in September. While the Orioles secured Craig Kimbrel as a successor to Bautista during the offseason, the transition has not unfolded as seamlessly as anticipated. Kimbrel, aged 35, has posted a 4-1 record with a 4.11 ERA, registering eight saves out of 11 opportunities in 15.1 innings pitched.
Alarmingly, Kimbrel’s struggles surfaced prominently as he faltered in closing out games, relinquishing leads during four out of his last five appearances as a closer. Notably, he encountered setbacks with three blown saves and conceding six earned runs within that span.
Contrastingly, following a stint on the injured list to commence the season, Romano has excelled by converting all six save opportunities, accompanied by a 4.15 ERA, eight strikeouts, and two walks across 8.2 innings pitched.
Whilst speculations allude to a probable shedding of key players by the Blue Jays in the face of continued challenges, Romano emerges as a plausible trade asset, considering his impending free agency in 2025. Despite such conjectures, the Blue Jays have not signaled intent to part ways with Romano, even amidst a tumultuous season marked by an 18-22 record. Notably, the Blue Jays are poised to engage the Orioles in a three-game series, seeking to clinch their first series triumph since overcoming the San Diego Padres last month.
For avid baseball enthusiasts, anticipate the enthralling clash between the Blue Jays and Orioles in the series opener on Monday at 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT, accessible on Sportsnet ONE or Sportsnet+.
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