This story was updated to correct a headline.
DALLAS – The Philadelphia Phillies, whose bullpen failed them again in the postseason, hope they have solved their Achilles heel by agreeing to a one-year, $7.75 million contract with free agent All-Star closer Jordan Romano on Monday at the winter meetings.
Romano was one of baseball’s premier closers from 2021-23 with the Toronto Blue Jays before missing the final four months of the season with an elbow injury. He needed arthroscopic surgery for an elbow impingement. The Blue Jays non-tendered him last month, making him a free agent.
Romano, 31, saved 95 games and struck out 230 batters with a 2.37 ERA from 2021-23, with the highest WAR among all relievers during that span.
The signing of Romano is expected to end the Phillies’ pursuit to bring back reliever Jeff Hoffman, who’s a free agent.
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Romano, a right-hander, is expected to be at least be an option at the back end of the bullpen along with right-hander Orion Kerkering and left-handers Matt Strahm and Jose Alvarado.
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