The Twins have elected to decline their club option over righty Sergio Romo, LaVelle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports. He’ll receive a $250K buyout rather than the $5MM option price.
Romo finished the 2020 campaign with a 4.05 ERA over twenty frames while carrying a 23:7 K/BB ratio and allowing three long balls. Those results weren’t good enough to convince the Twins to commit to another season, though Neal says the Minnesota brass will consider a lower-cost reunion.
Whether or not he ends up back with the Twins, it seems fair to presume that Romo will end up securing a big-league contract somewhere. Though he’s 37 years old and features bottom-of-the-barrel velocity, he is still capable of generating swings and misses with his trusty slider. Romo leaned on that offering more than ever in 2020, slinging it on 64.0% of his deliveries to the plate.
davemlaw
Come back home Sergio, Giants could use a veteran presence in the bullpen, spinning yarns of days old when you struck out Miggy on a fastball. Mr Clutch, owner of 3 Rings.
scottn59c
I’d rather see SF resign Yusmeiro Petit if they want an old friend in the relief corps, but Romo sure was fun to watch back in the day.
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
Re-sign*
herecomethephillies2018
Thank you, without you we would have had no clue what he meant.
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
Well the is a huge difference. So you’re welcome.
jd396
Didn’t they call it “torture”
pustule bosey
torture because the giants had no offense and won on their pitching year after year not the other way around
Chief Two Hands
Maybe the Giants could trade for Bumgarner, too.
pustule bosey
that was my thought too – there is talk of adding a veteran arm in the bullpen to give more of a presence to the young arms, romo is just a fun guy to have around so it could be a good thing more for the makeup in the pen than the numbers but if he can show a guy or 2 that no dot slider it would be pretty cool
Lloyd Emerson
You’re going to be able to start a brand new professional league with all the players whose options are declined this off-season. It’s going to be a very dark winter for Major League baseball.
skip 2
Spot on! Going to be a winter like no other!
Dave63
Yeah I think it could be a weird off season….Loss of revenue could effect alot of spending! Time will tell….some may be aggressive and take alot of chances….
skip 2
Dave the weirds has started!
giantsphan12
@Lloyd, I fear you’re right. There are going to be loads of good veterans whose options don’t get picked up and loads of younger players who are not tendered new contracts. It will be “great” for teams like the Giants as they may be able to speed up their rebuild on the cheap, but not good for all of baseball and the players in general.
djulio4u
What about all the employees getting let go, there will be multiple front office talent looking for jobs!!!
giantsphan12
@djulio, you’re right. The loss of revenue from this season and likely next (even if fans are allowed to attend games later in the season) will affect the entire sport except the big contract guys and the top brass. A bummer for sure.
Chief Two Hands
Why are so many people unnecessarily using exclamation marks?
jd396
The question is, why aren’t you?
DarkSide830
dark? most of these guys will land contracts elsewhere if not resign.
Mjm117
Come back to Miami Romo!
mp9
BYE FELICIA!
Dave63
Probably be alot of options declined!!
bradthebluefish
Twins might bring him back for say 1 year, $2.5 million.
Rangers29
At some points I see Romo, and I see a happy dude just out doing his job with friends. At other points I see an over-exaggerated fuster cluck of emotions getting lashed out. Which one is he Marlins, Twins, Giants fans? Is he a good dude or a clubhouse cancer?
People love to say that “Oh I hope we get him for the clubhouse presence”, but how much does that actually help? If a guy is a good teammate, that’s one thing, but what about being a leader on the field as well? That’s why I truly think Shin-Soo Choo is the best veteran on the market this off-season. He’s such a great dude, helps minor leaguers, and has performed well even as he has began to age. People love to hate on him for the contract, but I think he’s well worth it in the grand scheme. And of course he ended his tenure in Texas (most likely) with a bang: mlb.com/news/shin-soo-choo-potential-last-game-for…
He is the only player I have an autograph from, and I am totally fine with that. This ended up being more of a thanks to Shin-Soo more than a rant on veteran presence, so sorry about that.
mnsportsfan
he is absolutely a good dude. watching that guy was a joy, he has a great attitude and loves being out there with his teammates. but he does tend to get emotional and he lets that get the best of him sometime. overall he’s a great locker room presence and i’d love to see him back on the twinkies, with a much lower salary of course.
giantsphan12
@rangers: I loved having Romo as a Giant. He was fun, had a great attitude, loved the game and the competition, and, as far as I know, a beloved teammate. I haven’t followed him so closely while in FL or MN, so, not sure how he’s aged. Is he a clubhouse leader/mentor type??? Don’t know.
jd396
Where would you get the idea he’s a clubhouse cancer?
pustule bosey
romo was a great guy in the clubhouse – at the end I think he was frustrated as it seems a lot of guys were in 2016 when they collapsed as hard as they did having a historical winning first half and a historically losing second half and it seemed like bochy really didn’t understand the pen he had with smith being designated as a lefty specialist before going out injured and cassila continually choking
Ducky Buckin Fent
You love the hell outta your squad, @Rangers29.
Your posts make for enjoyable insight about a team I know very little about.
Choo could do worse for an agent, as well.
😉
Birdieman2
As well they shoul
Lefty_Orioles_Fan
Romo was a complete disaster for the Twins late in the season, this decision is no surprise
bravesfan
He’s a guy who should find a team with no problem, as the article states. He doesn’t have much left in the tank, but he has something. Good for a rebuilding team, a vet who’s willing to take a beating and eat a few relief innings in the meantime.
southern lion
Texas will sign him.
92jays
He does have a nice beard
Mrtwotone
I’m kinda surprised the twins didn’t pick it up . The braves better pick up the Darren ODay 3.25 option
cheetobandito
I think the set up of the divisions didn’t do him any favors. A lot of hitters saw him multiple times. They just sat on anything in the zone.