Blue Jays right-hander Jordan Romano underwent arthroscopic surgical procedure on Wednesday 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 shall be shut down from throwing for no less than six weeks, together with his potential return this season relying on how issues progress from that time.
Romano’s elbow has been a difficulty all 12 months lengthy. The 31-year-old was shut down throughout spring coaching attributable to some irritation and started the season on the 15-day injured listing. He was capable of 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 at the beginning of June, once more attributable to irritation in that elbow. He gave the impression to be on the highway to rejoining the membership final month however was shut down attributable to some extra soreness about two weeks in the past.
On the weekend, there was an ominous replace. Schneider informed 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 situation evoked by that physician go to, at this time’s replace counts as excellent news. A Tommy John surgical procedure comes with a timeline of greater than a 12 months, which might have undoubtedly ended Romano’s 2024 and even made it troublesome for him to pitch subsequent 12 months.
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 will likely be the center of August and he must 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 rivalry, 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 12 months, a top-10 mark within the majors. This 12 months, the reduction corps has a 4.73 ERA, higher than simply the Angels and Rockies. That’s been partly attributable to Romano, but additionally pitchers like Erik Swanson and Tim Mayza have struggled and Yimi García has been on the injured listing for some time.
The Jays must make some robust selections within the coming weeks about whether or not they’re consumers or sellers, and the lack of Romano shall 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 charge and 9.2% stroll charge 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 ultimately takes the vendor path, Romano would have been a beautiful commerce candidate. He’s making $7.75M this 12 months and has one 12 months of arbitration management remaining. Now that he’s probably out for the 12 months, he received’t be capable to assist the Jays regular the ship nor will he be capable to carry again younger expertise in a deadline deal. Gamers on the IL may be traded however the presents 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 shall be a key storyline to observe, as he might function a contemporary arm in September and/or October. Or if the membership is out of it, the membership would certainly prefer to see him again on the mound earlier than deciding whether or not or to not tender him a contract for subsequent 12 months.
He received’t be capable to command an enormous arbitration increase since his work this 12 months has been so restricted and likewise ineffective. Having Romano again to real nearer standing at round $8M for one 12 months would nonetheless be an enormous cut price, although if the elbow points linger and there’s an opportunity of him lacking any of 2025, that might clearly change the calculus there.
