Angels Sign Jordan Romano to Bolster Late-Inning Relief

The Los Angeles Angels just rolled the dice on upside, signing former All-Star closer Jordan Romano to a one-year deal. They’re hoping he can rediscover the dominance he once flashed in Toronto.

This isn’t about grabbing headlines. It’s about squeezing value out of a risky relief market, as the Angels try to patch together a pitching staff without torching their budget.

Angels Bet Low on a Former Elite Closer

The Angels inked Jordan Romano to a one-year, $2 million contract. They’re basically buying a lottery ticket on a reliever who not long ago ranked among the American League’s most reliable closers.

Romano, once a fixture at the end of Toronto’s bullpen, lands in Anaheim as a classic reclamation project. It’s a short-term, low-risk move.

Romano’s Peak Years in Toronto

At his best, Romano was a legit ninth-inning weapon. With the Blue Jays, he put up back-to-back 36-save seasons in 2022 and 2023, anchoring a playoff-level bullpen and showing he could handle the pressure.

From 2021 through 2023, he kept his ERA under 3.00. That put him right in the mix with the game’s top closers.

He paired swing-and-miss stuff with a real competitive edge. Toronto fans loved him, and he became a staple in late-game spots.

From All-Star to Uncertain Asset

The story changed fast over the past two seasons. Romano’s performance tanked, and people started to worry about his durability.

Early in 2024, pitching for Toronto, he posted a 6.59 ERA in just 15 appearances. That’s a huge drop from his usual consistency.

He ended up having arthroscopic elbow surgery. Sometimes that’s a minor setback, but it can also mark a turning point for a pitcher.

Toronto decided it was time to rethink his long-term value.

Non-Tender, Phillies Gamble, and a Tough 2024

With health questions and a rising arbitration price, the Blue Jays chose to non-tender Romano before his last arbitration year. That move put him into free agency sooner than most expected.

The Philadelphia Phillies, looking for bullpen upside, jumped in with an $8.5 million contract. Maybe a new environment would help him bounce back, they figured.

Struggles in Philadelphia

Things never clicked in Philadelphia. Romano’s control and command just weren’t there, and his results suffered all season.

In 42 2/3 innings, he got tagged for an 8.23 ERA. He struggled to find a consistent role and couldn’t execute the way he used to.

Injuries didn’t help. A middle finger issue and neck stiffness ended his season early, feeding concerns around the league about his ability to handle a reliever’s workload again.

Stuff Still Plays: Why the Angels Are Interested

Even with those rough numbers, Romano’s tools still catch the eye. He’s still got a 95–96 mph fastball and a mid-80s slider that once graded as a true plus pitch.

Despite everything, Romano struck out about 25% of hitters and held an 11.8% swinging strike rate. The raw stuff is there—the Angels are betting they can help him find some command and confidence again.

How Romano Fits the Angels’ Bullpen Puzzle

For the Angels, this move is as much about managing resources as evaluating talent. With 37 players on the 40-man roster, they can take a shot on a bounce-back candidate without losing flexibility or tying up money long-term.

At $2 million, Romano doesn’t need to be a star. If he’s just functional and sometimes reliable, that’s enough to make this deal worthwhile.

Low-Leverage Role to Start

The Angels plan to use Romano in low-leverage situations at first. He’ll avoid the ninth inning and high-pressure moments while he works back into form.

If he settles in and flashes some of his Toronto peak, he could become a dependable right-handed setup man. That’s the hope, anyway—someone to bridge the middle innings and help stabilize the bullpen.

Bigger Picture: Angels’ Roster and Payroll Strategy

Romano’s signing isn’t a cure-all, but it fits the bigger plan. The team still needs help in a few areas:

In the bullpen, the Angels are handing closer duties to Robert Stephenson. He’s supposed to take over from Kenley Jansen in the ninth.

If Stephenson holds the job and Romano even gets halfway back to his old self, the late innings could finally look a lot more stable than they have in recent years.

Financial Angle: A Smaller Payroll with Upside Plays

This move nudges the Angels’ projected payroll to around $172 million. That’s down quite a bit from the roughly $193 million mark at the start of the 2025 season.

The gap really shows how the front office wants to find value and avoid throwing too much money at risky relief pitchers.

Jordan Romano fits the mold of a modern bullpen gamble: low cost, unpredictable results, but a shot at something special.

If the Angels get lucky with this reclamation project, a $2 million bet could turn into one of the best bargains of their 2025 run.

 
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