The Blue Jays announced that closer Jordan Romano has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to lower back inflammation. Righty Nate Pearson was called up from Triple-A to take Romano’s spot on the active roster.
Romano was clearly struggling through Friday’s outing, as he allowed two singles and a walk over two-thirds of an inning before departing the game. However, lower back problems also forced Romero to make an early exit from the All-Star Game, and he didn’t make his second-half debut until nine days after the Midsummer Classic. It seemed as though Romero and the Jays had successfully managed the problem without an IL stint, yet the right-hander will now miss at least the next 15 days.
It could be that a proper IL trip will fully correct Romano’s back issue, and he’ll return in due course to help the Blue Jays during their playoff push. Unfortunately for the Jays, they’ll have to make do without their star closer for over two weeks, which could be a tricky proposition for a club in a tight postseason race, and considering the Blue Jays’ tendency to play close games.
Romano’s 28 saves tied him with Felix Bautista and Emmanuel Clase for the AL lead, and the Toronto reliever has backed up his ninth-inning record with a 2.79 ERA over 42 innings. A below-average 8.5% walk rate is the only real blemish on Romano’s otherwise strong Statcast page, and he has blossomed into one of baseball’s better relievers since taking over the Blue Jays’ close role in 2021.
The Jays bullpen has quietly posted some very impressive numbers in 2023, so Toronto might have enough depth to make up for Romano’s absence if he only misses 15 days. Erik Swanson is probably the likeliest candidate for save opportunities, but the Blue Jays might turn to any of Swanson, Tim Mayza, Yimi Garcia, or Pearson rather than establish a set closer.
Outside help could also come before August 1, as is often the case when any contending team suffers a notable injury this close to the trade deadline. Even with the Jays’ quality bullpen results, it’s safe to assume that the club (like basically every contender) is exploring additional relief depth, and Romano’s injury might make the Jays more aggressive in seeking out another extra arm. Chad Green is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and is expected to make his Blue Jays debut at some point in August, so Toronto also has an interesting in-house reliever on the verge of joining the mix.
Swanson to take over the closer role for now?
Most likely. If not, hopefully the Jay’s were planning on adding another high leverage reliever in the next couple of days that can do the job.
Romano got shredded, likely replaced by a tv dinner
I hear Garcia to take over
And the closet will be…?
Josh Hader
Freudian slip?
Who cares. Anything regarding the blue jays isn’t worth an article.
Super illuminating point jank. Sheesh.
Goof
Who hurt you Janky? Show us on this doll.
Anecdotally from watching 2+ Jays gms per week they work Romano too hard. They have a lot of win/save situations, try to use him only 2 str8 days most of the time and don’t ask for multiple innings very often if at all. They do have other decent relievers. This should be the case for many durable, overworked high leverage arms.
This deadline will decide Ross’s career (although he should be fired either way)
Josh Hader and Juan Soto trade package please and thanks Ross. Sell the farm plus Varsho don’t really care. We’ve got a couple year window to win a ring before everyone gets paid and out of our budget. The time is now to push your chips all in.
This is not far from the truth.
Vlad and Bo will both want extensions but I don’t think either is producing in a way that justifies the star player paycheque that they will be looking for. Bichette has hit well… but defensively Chapman shelters him quite a bit. Chapman and Merrifield both gone next year.
I love the idea of sustained competitiveness that Atkins talks about… but the farm already looks weak. And Hader would look so good running out of that bullpen. And Soto would be spectacular at the top of the lineup.
Extend Bichette and wait to extend Vlade. Personally, I’m concerned with how Vlade’s body-type ages/declines and exactly how impactfull his hitting is year to year. First base is not as hard to fill, if you eventually lose Vlade.
If the choice had to be made, I would extend Bo over Vladdy. The fact they haven’t already locked down Vladdy is telling. I think they will let him go in free agency.
Bo definitely earned a star pay cheque. At this rate he will be making close to $300M. Vlad….not so much.
The Jay’s Bullpen is burning out, especially Swanson. Starters are okay but they don’t go long enough and there isn’t much depth in the system for quality starters or relievers. Note, the key word is quality.
Shapiro and Atkins are going to have to spend some prospect capital and make some big deals or it is another early exit from the playoff picture for the Bluejays.
On the plus side it is great opportunity for Pearson. All long his role should have been a one inning guy but the Jays have misused him first as a starter then as a multi inning reliever. Hopefully now he will get his chance to be the elite one inning guy that he is.
You pretty much summed up a lot of the Jay’s issues, good take.
Anybody who thinks the Jays starters don’t go deep enough needs to realize it’s 2023, and the game has changed. Go take a look at MLB stats. 3 of the top 14 pitchers by IPs are Jays starters. Next to the Jays, there isn’t even a single team with 2 in the top 18. In a 30 team league, this is hugely disproportional in favor of the Jays starters being able to go what is considered “deep” in modern baseball.
That’s unfortunate timing. As a Red Sox fan I always look forward to facing him. Hope for quick recovery.
We have bi*** slapped them this Year I just hope we don’t get payback anytime soon.
Trade for Stroman and convert him back to a closer 😉
Romano AND Romero down? Rough News for the Jays.
Closers Hicks, Hader, Bednar, Lange, Foley and Barlow are still available, but Chapman and Robertson are off the board. Gallegos lost the role in St. Louis, but might also be available.
Gallegos could gain the role back after Hicks is traded.
Losing Romano sucks. Swanson is good but he’s been over used already. Garci is doing way better then before but who knows. Let’s get Josh Hader.
Holy Canoli