The Philadelphia Phillies have a number of interesting bullpen decisions to weigh moving forward, including the future of reliever Jordan Romano. Before diving into the veteran's struggles, it is important to note that the previous four outings from Romano have all been scoreless appearances. It is very possible that Romano has turned the corner, including throwing a key inning to help complete an incredible Philly comeback to sweep the Rays earlier this week.
Romano is on a one-year deal worth $8.5 million, making the reliever an incredibly easy asset to either trade or move on from. This is where Philly finds itself, as the veteran still has a 9.45 ERA and has been a consistent question mark in the first month of the season. With the team attempting to hold off an increasingly hot Braves team and catch the elusive Mets, the franchise simply cannot afford to give away innings.
Phillies Have a Tough Decision to Make on Jordan Romano
With the level of desperation around the league to find reliable relief options, it isn't out of the question that the Phillies could find a trade partner. The team could use bench additions as well as an additional outfield bat. With this in mind, Philly fans should keep a close eye on Romano, understanding the possibility that the reliever doesn't play out the rest of his contract.
The counter to this is pointing out that a large bulk of the damage against Romano was done on April 19th when the reliever allowed six earned runs in a single outing. Add in the fact that the last four appearances have been scoreless, and it isn't time to let go of hope just yet. Rather, it is time to evaluate the obvious of who the Phillies could turn to as a potential replacement. It wouldn't be hard to find an arm capable of giving you the inconsistent production Romano has offered in the first weeks of the season.
One more awful outing in the next games of the season should be enough to convince the team it is time to turn the page. Romano's only remaining path to staying on the roster must be continuing his recent hot streak and winning back the trust of a Philly manager who has often viewed Romano as a last resort.