Former Blue Jays All-Star pitcher lands with the Angels on a one-year deal

Things certainly have not been pretty for Jordan Romano over the past couple of seasons. But the former Toronto Blue Jays star closer will look to have a fresh start and begin a new chapter in his MLB career after signing a one-year, $2 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday.

It sure wasn’t too long ago when Romano was a staple in the back end of the Blue Jays’ bullpen following their rise back to prominence. The Canadian product officially took over as the team’s closer in 2021 and ran away with the role. Romano would end up putting together four consecutive seasons of a sub-3.00 ERA and sub 1.22 WHIP between 2000 and 2023 while registering 97 saves along with being a two-time All-Star in the process.

Former Blue Jays All-Star pitcher lands with the Angels on a one-year deal

However, a disastrous 2024 campaign that was filled with inconsistencies and injuries ultimately spelled the end of the 32-year-old reliever's tenure with the Blue Jays. Romano posted a dismal 6.59 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, giving up 10 earned runs in just 13.2 innings pitched in 15 limited appearances before a right elbow impingement would end up costing Romano the entire second half of the 2024 season.

Signing with the perennial contenders in the Philadelphia Phillies during the 2024-25 offseason, Romano was hoping to rediscover his dominant form that made him one of the top closers in the game for much of this part of the decade. Unfortunately, his 2025 season with the Phillies would turn into a nightmare instead.

Romano managed to somehow compile an even worse 8.23 ERA, giving up 39 earned runs including 10 home runs in just 42.2 total innings over 49 games played. To cap off the dreadful year, he would end the season on the injured list and would fail to make the Phillies’ playoff roster as a result.

In signing with the Angels, Romano will now join fellow former Blue Jays teammate Alek Manoah as reclamation projects in Los Angeles with hopes to revitalize their once-promising baseball careers. Romano will be expected to be a big part of the Angels’ revamped bullpen heading into 2026 alongside Drew Pomeranz, who also inked a one-year deal with the club at about the same time frame.

Los Angeles will aim to put themselves back on the baseball map with their bold boom-or-bust offseason moves to date in hopes to support an aging Mike Trout to return to contention status.