Jordan Romano’s tenure with the Philadelphia Phillies could be over.
The Phillies reportedly will shut down their former closer with what they are calling right-middle finger inflammation and announced the release of fellow reliever Joe Ross, after each was shelled in their 13-3 loss to the New York Mets on Monday night.
The Phillies signed right-hander Lou Trivino, previously of the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers, and called up Daniel Robert from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to replace Romano and Ross.
Romano, who will be a free agent at the end of this year, has eight saves and also the highest ERA of all qualifying relievers (8.23) by more than 1.5 runs and fourth-highest FIP in the major leagues (5.37). The Phillies signed him to a one-year contract to be their closer, but he lost that job in June.
Ross was 2-1 with a 5.21 ERA in 51 innings with the Phillies this season. The 32-year-old also signed a one-year contract with Philadelphia before the year and is now a free agent.
Why Did the Phillies Shut Down Jordan Romano?
Not only is Romano having a bad year, but he’s having a historically horrible campaign, which is saying something for the Phillies — who have by far the most losses of any major-league team.
Matt Gelb of The Athletic spelled out just how awful Romano’s Phillies tenure has been.
Romano’s 8.23 ERA over 49 games is the worst in Phillies history for a pitcher with 30-plus appearances in a season,” Gelb reported. It’s the worst for a Phillies pitcher with at least 40 innings since Reggie Grabowski’s 9.23 ERA in 1934, when the Phillies still called the bandbox Baker Bowl their home park.
The only modern Phillies equivalent to Romano’s season was Brad Lidge’s 2009; he lugged a 7.21 ERA over 67 appearances. Lidge, at least, had authored one of the best seasons ever for a Phillies closer the year before.
The straw that broke the camel’s back came Monday, when with the opportunity to build a much bigger lead and exorcize some demons at Citi Field, Romano came in trailing 6-3 and allowed four runs, including a three-run home run to Luis Torrens.
So there could be more than just finger inflammation at play for Romano, who battled an injury to his throwing shoulder while playing for Toronto in 2024. Manager Rob Thomsen lost trust in Romano, since his velocity ebbed and flowed — even though FanGraphs estimates his expected ERA at only 3.91.
The Phillies saw wild fluctuations in Romano’s velocity; he’d enter some games throwing 97 or 98 mph, then others at 93 mph,” Gelb reported. “It became a problem. The Phillies could not trust Romano without knowing what version they’d see.
Why Did the Phillies Release Joe Ross?
Ross’ release may be more strategic than a function of his struggles, since he had pitched to a 0.96 ERA with one hold in his previous eight appearances before Monday night’s meltdown, where he allowed three runs in the ninth inning.
Trivino was released by the Dodgers on July 27, despite his 2-1 record and 3.76 ERA in 26 1/3 innings with LA. Trivino is a Green Lane, Pennsylvania native, who played college baseball at Slippery Rock, so unlike Romano, the Phillies know Trivino can pitch in Eastern Pennsylvania.
With Trivino joining David Robertson and closer Jhoan Duran, the Phillies bullpen now could be considered much improved than where it was at the season’s outset.
Phillies Shut Down Jordan Romano Amid Bullpen Shakeup