Jordan Romano already seems to be right at home as a member of the Phillies

Toronto Blue Jays fans might still be reeling from seeing long-time fan-favorite closer and local boy Jordan Romano non-tendered in November. The front office's decision to cut Romano loose certainly benefitted another team, when the Philadelphia Phillies signed him to a one-year, $8.5 million contract on the first day of the Winter Meetings.

After passing the required physical, making the deal official, the 31-year-old met with the Philadelphia media on Tuesday via a Zoom call. He made a good first impression, saying all the right things to enamor himself to the locals.

Jordan Romano made a good first impression in Philadelphia

Philadelphia is a tough sports city. The fans are passionate. Romano and the Blue Jays saw that first-hand when they made their annual visit to Citizens Bank Park in early May.

"I remember we played there (at Citizens Bank Park) last year and I think it was a Tuesday or Wednesday day game," Romano told media during the Zoom call. "And I mean, the place was absolutely sold out. The atmosphere, I mean, just electric. And kind of coming off that series, I was always like 'If I ever got the chance to play here, I think I'd really enjoy it.'"

Apathy isn't one of the things Phillies fans are known for, at least not recently with the star-studded perennial contender they've built there. The game Romano secured the save in, a 5-3 Blue Jays win that snapped a Phillies seven-game win streak, was indeed a Wednesday afternoon game that saw 34,361 fans pack the ballpark. Little did anyone know the right-hander was auditioning for his future club.

He also tossed a subtle jab at the Blue Jays front office — if you want to read it that way — when discussing his new team.

"I think there's a standard in Philly," Romano said. "A standard with the players. I guess the city, the fans. It's a high level of performance. A lot of expectations to win, and I feel like I have the same expectations myself. So I feel like those views are aligned there ... just the team in general, just talent everywhere. It's a team built to win the World Series. So I felt like it would be a great spot for me to go join and help contribute to wins."

Romano will have to work his way into the closer role with the Phillies

As for Romano's role with the Phillies in 2025? He wasn't guaranteed anything beyond "leverage" innings. He won't be the closer, at least not immediately. Phillies manager Rob Thomson has been comfortable using a closer-by-committee, and Romano has already bought into the approach.

“If they want (me) to throw the ninth, I do love closing. I have experience there, and I’m happy to do it,” Romano said about his role in the Phillies bullpen. “But if they need me in other spots, too, I’m happy to do that. That’s more so what it’s going to be. I’m just there to help get big outs whenever they need them.”

If he pitches well enough, there's a chance he eventually gets the lion's share of ninth-inning opportunities. But from the sounds of it, the former Blue Jay is just happy to be with a winning team and be given a chance to prove himself again.