Blue Jays right-hander Jordan Romano underwent arthroscopic surgical procedure right this moment to restore an impingement in his throwing elbow. Supervisor John Schneider relayed the information to the membership’s beat, with Keegan Matheson of MLB.com amongst these to relay the information on X. The nearer can be shut down from throwing for a minimum of six weeks, along with his potential return this season dependant on how issues progress from that time.
Romano’s elbow has been a difficulty all yr lengthy. The 31-year-old was shut down throughout Spring Coaching as a result of some irritation and started the season on the 15-day injured checklist. He was in a position to come off the IL by mid-April however struggled, with a 6.59 earned run common in 15 appearances. He was positioned again on the IL initially of June, once more as a result of irritation in that elbow. He appeared to be on the street to rejoining the membership final month however was shut down as a result of some extra soreness about two weeks in the past.
On the weekend, there was an ominous replace. Schneider instructed reporters that Romano was going to go to Dr. Keith Meister, who has been a key determine in creating the interior brace/Tommy John surgical procedure hybrid.
Relative to the worst-case state of affairs evoked by that physician go to, right this moment’s replace counts as excellent news. A Tommy John surgical procedure comes with a timeline of greater than a yr, which might have positively ended Romano’s 2024 and even made it tough for him to pitch subsequent yr.
This process’s six-week no-throw timeline is much better than that however nonetheless not nice for Romano or the Jays. As soon as he begins throwing once more, it is going to be the center of August and he should ramp issues again up from there, which is why it’s nonetheless questionable whether or not he can return this season in any respect.
The Jays are at the moment 39-46 and on the fringes of competition, at the moment seven video games again of a playoff spot. A disappointing bullpen has been an enormous a part of their struggles, because the membership’s relievers had a collective 3.68 ERA final yr, a high ten mark within the majors. This yr, the aid corps has a 4.73 ERA, higher than simply the Angels and Rockies. That’s been partly as a result of Romano, but in addition pitchers like Erik Swanson and Tim Mayza have struggled and Yimi García has been on the injured checklist for some time.
The Jays should make some robust choices within the coming weeks about whether or not they’re patrons or sellers, and the lack of Romano can be hurtful on both path. Over the 2021 to 2023 seasons, he racked up 95 saves, trailing solely Emmanuel Clase, Kenley Jansen and Josh Hader. He had a 2.37 ERA, 30.3% strikeout price and 9.2% stroll price in that stretch.
Getting Romano wholesome and again in that type might have performed a job in getting them again within the playoff race. Conversely, if the membership finally takes the vendor path, Romano would have been a lovely commerce candidate. He’s making $7.75MM this yr and has one yr of arbitration management remaining. Now that he’s doubtlessly out for the yr, he gained’t have the ability to assist the Jays regular the ship nor will he have the ability to carry again younger expertise in a deadline deal. Gamers on the IL might be traded however the gives would certainly be unpalatable to the Jays proper now, given Romano’s present well being standing.
If the Jays can keep within the playoff race for the following few months, maybe the return of Romano can be a key storyline to look at, as he might function a recent arm in September and/or October. Or if the membership is out of it, the membership would certainly wish to see him again on the mound earlier than deciding whether or not or to not tender him a contract for subsequent yr.
He gained’t have the ability to command an enormous arbitration elevate since his work this yr has been so restricted and likewise ineffective. Having Romano again to real nearer standing at round $8MM for one yr would nonetheless be an enormous discount, although if the elbow points linger and there’s an opportunity of him lacking any of 2025, that may clearly change the calculus there.
