The St. Louis Cardinals are quietly sitting on one of the most intriguing bullpen trade chips of the winter in left-hander JoJo Romero. Contenders are circling.
The New York Yankees are among the clubs showing serious interest. Romero’s blend of affordability, experience, and late-inning potential has made him a focal point of the relief market as the Cardinals keep reshaping their roster.
Why JoJo Romero Is Suddenly a Hot Name on the Trade Market
Romero isn’t a household name. But front offices care more about performance, price, and control than they do about fame.
On all three counts, he checks the right boxes for both contenders and rebuilding clubs. He’s the kind of player who slips under the radar until, suddenly, everyone wants him.
Affordable contract and team control
The financial component is a big part of Romero’s appeal. He’s projected to earn roughly $4.4 million in 2026, his final season of arbitration before free agency.
For a high-leverage left-handed reliever in today’s market, that’s a bargain-level salary. That number matters for both sides:
Cardinals’ rebuild and the logic of trading Romero now
St. Louis is clearly in a retooling phase. They’re trying to reformat a roster that’s fallen behind the National League’s elite.
In that context, a 20-something lefty reliever approaching free agency is a logical trade chip. The Cardinals’ front office knows the timing of the reliever market.
They’d rather move Romero now, while he’s healthy and pitching well, than risk an injury or regression that could tank his value. If they can land the veteran bullpen help they’re chasing in free agency, their willingness to move Romero will probably go up.
Yankees’ Bullpen Needs Make Romero an Ideal Fit
The Yankees’ interest in Romero isn’t surprising. Their bullpen has quietly lost a chunk of its left-handed backbone this offseason, and they’re searching for stability from that side.
New York’s depleted left-handed options
New York already saw Devin Williams and Mark Leiter Jr. leave in free agency. Luke Weaver is still on the open market.
That attrition has left the Yankees thin on reliable left-handed relief. They did re-sign Ryan Yarbrough, but he’s more of a swingman who toggles between long relief and spot starts than a matchup-driven bullpen piece.
Tim Hill is penciled in for one lefty spot. Still, the Yankees need at least one more arm who can handle high-leverage innings against the toughest left-handed hitters in the American League.
That’s where Romero fits perfectly: a power lefty who can pitch in the seventh, eighth, or even ninth inning, not just as a specialist.
Romero’s Performance Profile: Results vs. Underlying Metrics
Romero’s raw results with the Cardinals have been eye-catching. Some underlying metrics, though, raise mild caution flags for analytically inclined clubs.
Run prevention and trends with the Cardinals
Since arriving in St. Louis in 2023, Romero has been a steady force. Across 156 2/3 innings, he’s posted a strong 2.93 ERA.
He’s improved each season. His 2025 campaign stood out: a 2.07 ERA over 61 innings, pushing him into late-inning territory.
He’s limiting damage in a few key ways:
Walks, strikeouts, and the sabermetric view
If you peel back the surface numbers, things get more nuanced. In 2025, Romero carried a 4.10 SIERA, which hints that his ERA might be outpacing his underlying peripherals.
His 11.4% walk rate is the main concern: command. He doesn’t profile as a classic strikeout machine, so there’s less margin for error when extra runners reach base.
Still, his knack for keeping the ball in the park and inducing grounders offsets some of that. Plenty of clubs believe walk issues can be ironed out with mechanical tweaks or usage adjustments.
Where the Market Stands: Yankees, Mariners, and Cardinals’ Leverage
The Yankees aren’t the only team that’s checked in on Romero. But their need feels more urgent than most.
Mariners’ shifting interest and Cardinals’ decision point
The Seattle Mariners were in the mix for Romero. Their stance feels a bit murky now, especially after picking up left-hander Jose A. Ferrer.
That move probably eases their urgency. The Yankees might be the most motivated suitors at this point.
For St. Louis, it’s all about timing. If they land a couple of veteran bullpen arms from outside, they’ll have enough depth to flip Romero for future value.
If the reliever market dries up or prices get out of hand, maybe they just hang onto him. He could anchor their own late-inning mix for another season.
Here is the source article for this story: Yankees Interested In JoJo Romero
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