Jordan Romano is a long way from Toronto's bullpen now, and the former Blue Jays closer keeps sliding farther from the pitcher Toronto loved.
Not long ago, Romano was one of the most reliable late-inning arms in baseball. From 2020 through 2023, he posted a 2.29 ERA over 200 2/3 innings for Toronto and piled up 97 saves.
Then came Philadelphia, and the drop was ugly fast. Romano made 49 appearances for the Phillies in 2025 and finished with an 8.23 ERA, the kind of season that wiped out any sense of stability around his market.
The Angels still took a shot on him over the winter, signing him to a 1-year, $2 million deal in December after that rough Phillies run. It looked like a simple rebound bet on a former All-Star closer.
That bet blew up almost at once. Romano made 11 appearances for Los Angeles, went 0-2 with a 10.13 ERA, and the Angels designated him for assignment on April 26 before releasing him the next day.
Colorado gave him another chance on May 5, agreeing to a minor-league deal after the Angels let him go. For a pitcher with his résumé, even that counted as a real lifeline.
But the placement says plenty about where Romano stands now. MiLB's player page lists him with the ACL Rockies rookie affiliate, not on a Triple-A mound, which is a harsh landing spot for a 33-year-old former Blue Jays closer.
Why Jordan Romano's fall hits Toronto fans hard
This is not just another ex-Blue Jay bouncing around the wire. Romano was a homegrown arm from Markham who became a two-time All-Star and one of the few Toronto relievers fans genuinely trusted in a save spot.
That is why the post-Toronto slide looks so brutal. A disaster in Philadelphia, a quick washout with the Angels, and now a complex-league assignment with the Rockies is not the path anyone expected.
There is still a baseball reason for Colorado to try. Romano's track record is real, and the Rockies had him report to their Arizona complex first so the pitching group could work on his mechanics and pitch mix before deciding the next step.
Still, that does not make the current picture look any better. When a veteran with 117 career saves is not even opening in Triple-A, the message is obvious: the rebuild is bigger than a quick tune-up.
For Blue Jays fans, that part stings most. Jordan Romano used to be the guy taking the ball with the game on the line. Now he is trying to climb back from the Arizona Complex League, and that is a steep fall for a reliever who once looked untouchable in Toronto.
Has Jordan Romano's fall since leaving Toronto become shocking?
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