Blue Jays nearer Jordan Romano is about to go to Dr. Keith Meister on July 2, supervisor John Schneider instructed reporters (together with the Athletic’s Kaitlyn McGrath and Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi). Romano has been on the injured record resulting from proper elbow irritation for nearly a month, and his throwing work has now been halted for a second time resulting from continued soreness. Some soreness final week led to a pause for a couple of days, however Romano has now been shut down from throwing fully after a throwing session yesterday.
Whereas Schneider famous that no structural injury has been present in different examinations of Romano’s elbow up to now, it’s naturally a little bit ominous to listen to that any pitcher is visiting Dr. Meister. It was simply earlier this month that Meister carried out a UCL surgical procedure on one other distinguished Blue Jays pitcher in Alek Manoah, and an analogous process represents the worst-case situation for Romano if his recurring elbow downside is because of extra than simply irritation. Romano would miss no less than the following yr of motion recovering from an inner brace process (one in all Meister’s specialties) or the usual Tommy John surgical procedure would probably preserve him out of motion till Opening Day 2026.
As we speak’s information is the most recent twist in what’s more and more wanting prefer it could be a misplaced season for Romano, who has a 6.59 ERA over 13 2/3 innings and 15 appearances. These underwhelming numbers got here in between each his present IL stint and one other season-opening IL stint additionally resulting from elbow irritation, as Romano didn’t pitch in his first recreation till April 16.
Romano has been Toronto’s nearer for the final three seasons, posting a sterling 2.37 ERA over 186 innings whereas recording 95 saves in 106 probabilities. Whereas Romano could possibly be homer-prone and his 9.2% stroll price was nothing particular, his 30.3% strikeout price was powered by a robust one-two punch of a fastball/slider mixture, serving to him obtain All-Star nods in each 2022 and 2023.
Extra will probably be identified after Romano’s session on Tuesday, however an prolonged absence may probably deliver his tenure with the Jays to an finish. Romano is underneath arbitration management by way of the 2025 season, although if his 2025 marketing campaign is now in jeopardy altogether, the Blue Jays may take into account not even tendering him a contract this winter. Maybe extra probably, the Jays would possibly discover a two-year extension with Romano, locking him up for each 2025 and what would hopefully be a totally wholesome 2026 season.
Even when the elbow downside proves to be comparatively minor, it virtually certainly signifies that Romano will nonetheless be a Blue Jays past the July 30 deadline, because it doesn’t appear probably he’ll be again on a giant league mound in a month’s time. A wholesome Romano might need been a major deadline commerce chip for a Jays group that trying to be falling out of competition, although clearly having a wholesome and efficient Romano in 2024 may’ve vastly altered Toronto’s fortunes. With Romano, Yimi Garcia, Erik Swanson, and Tim Mayza all waylaid by accidents and/or ineffectiveness, the Jays’ reduction corps has a 4.78 ERA, rating third-worst in all of baseball.
