Aug. 24: Heyman tweets that the Rays did indeed pull Romo off waivers after “multiple” American League clubs placed a claim on the right-hander.
Aug. 23: Veteran reliever Sergio Romo is “not going anywhere,” a source tells Jon Heyman of Fancred (via Twitter). It seems “likely,” Heyman adds, that Romo was pulled back from revocable waivers after being claimed.
Romo, 35, featured prominently on MLBTR’s latest ranking of the top August trade candidates. He’ll be a free agent again at season’s end, so there isn’t much reason for the out-of-contention Rays to hang onto him.
On the other hand, Romo is only owed about half a million dollars for the rest of the season. And he has played a notable role for an organization that has built some momentum with its unusual approach to building out a pitching staff. It certainly seems possible the Rays will seek to bring him back over the offseason to come; perhaps that consideration also weighed in the decision.
In 56 1/3 innings this year, Romo carries a strong 3.36 ERA with peripherals to match. He has generated 10.1 K/9 against 2.9 BB/9 and still draws swings and misses on over 13% of his pitches. Romo has held opposing hitters to a .294 wOBA, with Statcast suggesting he has been even a bit better than that (.286 xwOBA).
While it seems he’ll remain in Tampa Bay to finish out the year, Romo ought to be a fairly popular target in free agency over the winter to come. The veteran is on pace to finish out his 11th-straight MLB campaign with a sub-4.00 ERA and recorded 18 saves this year, which may still hold some sway for certain teams. Whether he can secure a multi-year commitment remains to be seen, but he ought at least to have a strong possibility of beating the salaries he has settled for in each of the past two years ($3MM and $2.5MM, respectively).
Once again a team going nowhere decides a veteran doesn’t deserve a chance at a ring even though they could sign him back after the season.
It’s wicked sad. Curious if Romo will hold it against the Rays.
I believe it has something to do with his clubhouse presence on this young team. The guy has had a swagger this year that I believe is rubbing off on the other players and the Rays FO doesn’t want to disrupt that. Sure they could get a middling prospect for him but I also lean towards the opinion that possibly Romo does not want to leave this team this season. I think he has embraced his leadership role and is enjoying himself and the game on a level he has not experienced before. But that’s all heresay and just my thoughts on it. Rays Up!
Must be some kind of clubhouse presence to hold onto him.
He has 3 rings already. Unless he wants to have one for every finger on his hand, he’s not exactly missing out.
Romo has 3 rings, bruh
Huh?
He has won a ring(s).
If anything he owes Tampa for helping him find his groove again after a bad start in L.A. early last season.
So because of that he will get better offers.
Dude, he has rings.
Maybe, he wanted to stay.
Maybe, they rhink it will help them bring him back.
Maybe, get over it. He can to any team next year.
There’s no point keeping him…
I’m guessing the mentor role and innings he eats are far more valuable than the cash considerations they would receive; no one was going to give up any real value for him.
Not really. Combined with Refsnyder, he sets them up for contention next year…….
Enough with Refsnyder crap. It was old last season
Recycled jokes are not “witty”
No one is joking about Ref. Hes a future HoF. How could you think of him as a joke????
Who gets more HoF support from BBWAA, Ref or Swihart?
Ref, 100%. He shared the 2nd base depth chart with none other than Dean Anna
So who claimed him before he was pulled back
My super-secret inside sources report that it was a team in the American or National Leagues, meaning that if MLBTR knew, they’d have posted it.
Glad Romo is staying till the end. I’m sure the deal was for a to low level prospect and Rays decided not to take it. claims are not easy cause you don’t have the other offers to work with. Anyhow Romo is a free agent in October and will decide his own fate. I hope he comes back though.
So the Rays, who are the cheapest Team in the league, and consistently ship guys out because of their cost…re-direct a slice of their limited funds to hold onto a guy who’s a FA in the offseason anyway?
Right.
Yeah, that one month, of what’s left of a few million dollar salary, is just awful
Wherever Romo goes from this point forward, most of us Giants fans (if not all…..) wish him the very best. He was a great Giant, as a player and as a overall dude. If the Rays feel he can mentor the young guys, and they compensate him appropriately, it’s not the worst way to end your illustrious career. Helping to foster the “mojo” on a team isn’t so easy (ask Kershaw), and Romo is most capable. Keep doing what you do Sergio!
I completely agree. Always will be a favorite of mine.
The little gnome that could
It is true that our owner is very cheap. He has traded everyone that is not working on the minimum (Except keirmaier) pay.and Rays fans just don’t go to the ballpark and spend money! The kids think baseball is a very slow game so the new fans chose another sport down here. Anyhow, I basically only miss Ramos of the trades cause the return has been unbelivable…Cudo’s to the FO! All the rookies are playing exciting baseball. I guess the Cheapo’s win!
The Giants miss Sergio. Got purged after Giants lost to Cubs.
Just echoing what was said earlier. Romo was well liked and respected in Bay Area. I generally root for ex Giants to do well after leaving the City. Did he have nasty stuff? He’s had a great career and it’s good news that other clubs are interested in him next year. Best of luck in the future Sergio. You’ll always be a Giant with me!
Romo has over 9 years of service time. Which 5 pitchers have thrown the MOST major league innings in the last 10 years for the LEAST amount of money?
Put it in the “I’ll never understand it” bin. Romo’s been a solid warrior, a good soldier for an organization that limits Gatorade in the clubhouse. Why not give the guy a chance to show his stuff in games that mean something, instead of in the obscurity of Tampa Bay?
This winter, SOME will fawn over Romo’s numbers, but MANY will say “Ya, it was in Tampa Bay; the team died in June”. Fluffing up stats in non-competitive situations never helps your market value.
All players are primarily economically motivated; don’t blame them, you would be too. But they’re also athletes, who want to compete on the big stage (well, there’s always Voto). Give the guy a break; let him go show his stuff somewhere where it matters. If you love him that much, resign him this winter.
Curious as to why. This team isn’t as petty as to deny a rival a chance to make a deal just because they play in the same division.
I hope not. The Rays are in the same division as the Sox/Yanks/ Jays, but are really not in the same universe. Not for now, and not for the foreseeable future. The Sox are too young; the Yanks have lots, and more coming, the Jays have the 2 “super-kids” coming. Oh ya, and they have more money.
Their best shot is to aim at 2021-2022 (new stadium?), when their REAL prospects (Sanchez, Hernadez, Brujan and the incredible Franco) bubble up to the MLB roster. Until then, it’s just treading water. They’re inventive, and have pretty good scouting, both in the pro ranks and the International market; a little short of where they should be domestically (many, many wasted draft opportunities). They can play the .500 game for a few years along the way.
But they really can’t compete until then.
They should let him go. It would give them a chance to audition some one for the closer role. If that did not work out they would have a better handle on whether to try to resign him. Another factor is that based on team salary $500,000 to the Rays is like 2 or 3 million to Boston, in other words a significant amount.
Or they can just keep him and at the same time audition someone and if they want to resign him they can make an effort during the window to exclusively negotiate before hitting free agency