Blue Jays reportedly make Sergio Romo contract offer

The Blue Jays have reportedly made a contract offer to free agent reliever Sergio Romo amid recent reports that his market is heating up.

According to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, the Blue Jays have made a formal contract offer to free-agent right-hander Sergio Romo, who spent the 2018 season with the Tampa Bay Rays.

This is coming just a few days after Fancred’s Jon Heyman reported that the Blue Jays were among the finalists to sign Romo, with multiple other teams reportedly in the race as well.

Romo, 35, is perhaps best known for his role as the inaugural “opener” on Tampa Bay’s shoestring 2018 pitching staff. In 73 games overall for the Rays, Romo pitched to an ERA of 4.14 in 67.1 frames, striking out 75 and walking 20.

Prior to that, he was an effective closer for the San Francisco Giants, racking up 75 saves between 2012 and 2014 over 173.2 innings.

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Romo, who hails from Brawley, California, was projected by many to earn a one-year major league deal worth between $2 million $6 million with a potential option. At this point, there is no word as to what the value or length of the proposed contract is.

While the Blue Jays have publicly expressed their desire to add more dependable arms to their bullpen, Romo may, at this point, be a little bit too expensive for their taste, if recent reports about his growing and expanding market are to be believed.

Morosi’s report also notes that the Minnesota Twins and the Texas Rangers have also “shown interest” in Romo on “minor league deals”. Jays Journal’s own Clayton Richer recently wrote a piece proposing that the Blue Jays go after Romo in free agency.

Overall, Romo would, if signed, represent a tremendously cost-efficient pickup for a bullpen that doesn’t have a lot of depth for the upcoming 2019 season.