Colorado Rockies Sign Right-Hander Jordan Romano to Minor-League Deal

In a move aimed at bolstering their pitching depth, the Colorado Rockies have signed right-handed pitcher Jordan Romano to a minor-league contract, as reported by Thomas Harding of MLB.com. Romano, who was designated for assignment by the Los Angeles Angels on April 26 and subsequently released the following day, will now look to revitalize his career with the Rockies.

The financial implications of the move are notable. The Angels will still be responsible for the remainder of Romano’s $2 million salary, while the Rockies will only need to cover the prorated league minimum based on how long he remains on their roster.

At 33 years old, Romano has faced challenges in recent seasons, which led the Rockies to send him to their Scottsdale pitching facility for further development. Originally drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 10th round of the 2014 MLB Draft, Romano made an impact in the majors from 2019 to 2024, posting a commendable 2.90 ERA over 229.2 innings pitched. His performance earned him All-Star selections in both 2022 and 2023.

However, his final season with the Blue Jays was marred by injury, limiting him to just 13.2 innings and a 6.59 ERA after undergoing mid-season surgery for a shoulder impingement. Following that season, he signed a one-year, $8.5 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, but continued to struggle, finishing with an 8.23 ERA over 42.2 innings.

While with the Angels, Romano logged 8.0 innings and recorded a troubling 10.13 ERA, though he did manage to strike out 12 batters and secure four saves. According to Baseball Savant, Romano features a three-pitch mix that includes a four-seamer averaging 94.5 mph, a slider at 84.7 mph, and a splitter at 86.6 mph. Unfortunately, all three pitches have seen declines in velocity in recent years, a trend the Rockies hope to reverse.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.