The Burlingame Blue Ducks kept up their activity Monday, announcing the acquisition of RP Jordan Romano (2/$8) from the Spokane Fightin' Fish in exchange for a 2024 3rd Round Pick (36th Overall).
Romano racked up 36 saves for the second consecutive year. It wasn't always pretty, as his 1.22 WHIP was his worst since his rookie season, but the right-hander remained effective in closing out games for Toronto. He set a Blue Jays franchise record with 26 successful conversions in a row. Romano maintained a 96.7 mph average fastball velocity that was in the 90th percentile despite dealing with lower back inflammation near mid-season, an injury that forced him from the All-Star Game after just five pitches, then subsequently resurfaced a few weeks later. Romano was able to return after a near-minimum IL stint, but he wasn't as sharp down the stretch, walking nine batters over his final 17 innings. He finished the season with a below-average 9.7% walk rate, but actually improved his strikeout percentage (29%), swinging strike rate (17%) and whiff percentage (35.9%). There's still a lot to like in Romano's profile to safely project him for another 30-plus saves in 2024.
Romano joins newcomer Marcus Stroman on the pitching staff while he's projected to be paired with Devin Williams in the bullpen.
The deal finalizes a 2023 deal that mistakenly sent a 3rd Round pick to the Ducks that the Fightin' Fish no longer had.
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