TAMPA, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 28: A detail view of the Toronto Blue Jays logo on an equipment bag prior to a spring training game against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 28, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images)
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The Toronto Blue Jays earned a victory against the Cleveland Guardians on Sunday, winning a second straight series as they prepare to take on the division rival Boston Red Sox.
The positive momentum might indicate that the team is finally seeing the benefits of the roster reconstruction they underwent after reaching Game 7 of the World Series last year, which included adding players like Tyler Rogers and Kazuma Okamoto and saying goodbye to franchise shortstop Bo Bichette.
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Now, the new faces are trying to put their own stamp on the team as it looks to win a title. But in the meantime, the Blue Jays got an update on an old contributor whose career has hit a rough patch since he left the team.
“The (Los Angeles) Angels announced a series of moves before Sunday’s matchup against the (Kansas City) Royals, the most notable of which was designating closer Jordan Romano for assignment,” Charlie Wright wrote for MLB Trade Rumors. “The club selected left-hander Joey Lucchesi to take his spot.”
Romano, who was born in Ontario, was drafted by the Blue Jays in 2014 and spent the first six years of his big-league career with the team. In more than 229 total innings and more than 160 games finished with the Blue Jays in that span, Romano maintained a 2.90 ERA with 105 saves and 285 strikeouts, but he struggled with elbow problems in his final year of arbitration eligibility and was non-tendered.
Romano joined the Philadelphia Phillies on a one-year deal for 2025 and posted the worst ERA of his career, then joined the Angels on a one-year deal last December.
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In eight innings so far this season, Romano has given up 11 hits, six walks and nine earned runs, though his tenure with the American League West club did start out well.
“The veteran right-hander started the season strong with four saves and five scoreless frames in his first six outings, but the Angels have decided to cut him loose after giving up nine earned runs in his past five appearances,” per RotoWire. “Romano had 8.23 ERA in 49 regular-season appearances for the Phillies in 2025 and may have a difficult time getting another look in the big leagues this year.”
After emerging as a promising homegrown talent for the Blue Jays before his elbow issues flared up, Romano has seen a steady decline on the mound. And now, following his latest roster setback, it’s possible that Blue Jays fans have seen the last of him in a major-league setting.