How can the Blue Jays replace Jordan Romano? 10 closer candidates

TORONTO The ninth inning is going to look different for the Toronto Blue Jays next season after the organization non-tendered their former closer Jordan Romano .

The move, made Friday, makes Romano a free agent.

The 31-year-old could theoretically re-sign with the Blue Jays on a deal worth less than the $7.75 million he was scheduled to receive via arbitration, per MLB Trade Rumors estimates.

However, the decision to non-tender Romano likely underscores the Blue Jays concern about his health after he missed the majority of the 2024 season with an elbow injury that eventually required season-ending surgery.

Advertisement So with a reunion feeling unlikely, the Blue Jays are in the market for a new closer.

Lets take a look at some internal and external options.

Internal option 2024 stats: 3.21 ERA, 53 1/3 IP, 46K, 17 SV In Romanos absence, Green took over as the Blue Jays closer this past season, earning 17 saves.

Green performed well in the role, with a 1.61 ERA through the end of August without blowing a save.

The wheels came off a bit in September, after Green surrendered 11 earned runs in 8 2/3 innings, but the Blue Jays believed that was primarily the product of bad luck.

Green is a veteran of nine MLB seasons and has pitched in leverage situations during all of them.

Hes never been a full-time closer, and there is reason for caution.

His strikeout rate dropped to 21.9 percent this year, well below his 31.2 percent career rate and his average exit velocity allowed was 91.3 mph, ranked in the bottom 1 percent of MLB.

Hes probably better suited for a sixth or seventh inning role but hes the best internal option for now.

External options: Free agents 2024 stats: 1.75 ERA, 72 IP, 84 K, 22 SV Scott is the top reliever on The Athletic s Free Agent Big Board at No.

19 .

The left-hander is coming off a career season, which he split between the Miami Marlins and San Diego Padres .

After inconsistency early in his career, Scott has settled in and possesses one of the best upper-90s fastball and high-80s slider combinations in baseball.

Hes still prone to walks with an above-average 12.2 percent walk rate, but his very good 28.6 strikeout rate helps offset the risk.

Scott is projected to earn a four-year, $64 million deal, per Tim Brittons model, so if the Blue Jays want him, theyll need to pay up.

2024 stats: 2.17 ERA, 66 1/3 IP, 89 K, 10 SV A one-time top Blue Jays pitching prospect, Hoffman reinvented himself as a reliever and hes emerged as one of the best in the last two seasons for the Phillies , with a 2.28 ERA in 118 2/3 innings.

Hoffman succeeds with a fastball and slider combination, and he throws a splitter to lefties.

Hoffman doesnt have as much closing experience as some other pitchers on this list, but hes effective in late innings, regardless.

Hoffman is The Athletic s 24th-ranked free agen t and signing with the Blue Jays could be a full-circle moment.

Advertisement 2024 stats: 2.45 ERA, 55 IP, 50 K, 26 SV Estevez is coming off his best season in 2024, split between the Los Angeles Angels and Phillies, who traded for him at the deadline.

Estevez throws a fastball that averages 97 mph and he pairs it with a slider and changeup.

He lowered his walk rate in 2024 to a career-best 5.7 percent and he held batters to a .191 average.

The 31-year-old ranks No.

28 on The Athletic s Big Board in part because of his experience as both a closer and set-up man.

2024 stats: 3.14 ERA, 63 IP, 68 K, 30 SV A late bloomer, Holmes went from a middle reliever with a 5-plus career ERA in 2021 to a legitimate closer for the New York Yankees in about three years.

The 31-year-old Holmes, ranked 27th on The Athletic s Big Board, has 74 career saves and a 2.69 ERA since joining the Yankees.

He has been prone to some ups and downs, still, and he notably lost his closer job late in the 2024 season.

But Holmes and his sinker-sweeper mix rebounded in the postseason and ending the season on a strong note should help his free agency case.

Additionally, the Blue Jays may value his experience in the AL East.

2024 stats: 3.68 ERA, 63 2/3 IP, 60 K, 38 SV The Washington Nationals made the somewhat surprising move to non-tender Finnegan on Friday.

The 2024 All-Star racked up 66 saves over the past two seasons, including 38 last year, leading to a projected $8.6 million in arbitration.

There is a case that because of how much arbitration salaries favour the saves stat, Finngean was being overvalued.

The Athletic s Patrick Mooney, Will Sammon and Katie Woo noted the 33-year-old has concerning underlying stats, including a hard-hit rate that ranked in the bottom 5 percent of MLB since 2023 and a lack of chase or swing-and-miss, which is coveted in a closer.

Still, Finnegan is experienced in the ninth and could be a fit at a lower cost than some on this list.

Advertisement 2024 stats: 1.17 ERA, 61 2/3 IP, 85 K, 33 SV Yates is coming off a career year with the Texas Rangers after he fell into the closer role.

However, Yates was no stranger to the ninth inning.

The 37-year-old has 95 career saves and was one of the games best closers in 2019, when he had a 1.19 ERA and 41 saves with the Padres.

Yates had a brief stint with the Blue Jays in 2021 but the year was completely lost after he needed Tommy John surgery.

Now fully recovered, Yates is ranked 32nd on The Athletic s Big Board.

The main concern over signing Yates may be his age, as he will be 38 next season.

2024 stats: 3.29 ERA, 54 2/3 IP, 62 K, 27 SV Jansen is another veteran closer on the market.

The 37-year-old has been one of the games best closers, recording at least 25 saves in every season since 2012 (excluding 2020).

Jansen isnt as dominant as he used to be during his prime with the Los Angeles Dodgers but his cutter remains an effective weapon against big-league hitters.

He may be better served as a set-up man, but there arent many better backup closers to have on your roster.

External options: Trade candidates 2024 stats: 1.25 ERA, 21 2/3 IP, 38 K, 14 SV If the Blue Jays decide to go the trade route to fill the closer role, Williams stands as one of the top candidates.

After returning from a back injury that sidelined him until the end of July, Williams resumed his post as a dominant closer for the Milwaukee Brewers .

Williams succeeds with his fastball and a devastating changeup, and he hasnt had a season-ending ERA above 2.00 since 2021.

Hes a free agent after 2025 and the Brewers have a history of trading their best players a year ahead of free agency (see: Corbin Burnes).

If hes healthy, hell command a hefty haul.

2024 stats: 2.04 ERA, 66 1/3 IP, 79 K, 49 SV Advertisement If the St.

Louis Cardinals take a step back competitively, moving Helsley could help speed up the rebuild process by netting top prospects in a trade.

Helsleys 49 saves led the majors in 2024 and his 29.7 percent strikeout rate was in the top 10 percent of the majors.

He comes with a year of control and will be a free agent after the 2025 season, so it would be wise for St.

Louis to move him now to maximize the return rather than waiting until the trade deadline.

The Blue Jays have a recent trade history with the Cardinals, acquiring relievers Genesis Cabrera and Jordan Hicks from St.

Louis during the 2023 season, so there is reason to believe the two front offices could work out another deal.

(Top photo of Scott: Julio Aguilar / Getty Images).

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