Friday marks a key date for many players across Major League Baseball, as it’s the non-tender deadline. This means teams must decide whether to offer contracts to arbitration-eligible players, and if they don’t, those players will become free agents.
MLBTradeRumors recently released a list of potential non-tender candidates, acknowledging that there’s no certainty about who will be cut until the deadline. The list includes players with an estimated 10-20% chance of being non-tendered, and one surprising name on it is Toronto Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano. Despite his success since debuting in 2019—posting a 2.90 ERA with 105 saves, two All-Star selections, and playoff appearances in 2020, 2022, and 2023—Romano’s future is uncertain.
Romano is entering the final year of his contract, with his arbitration figure projected to be nearly $8 million. After spending much of 2024 sidelined with elbow issues and recording a 6.59 ERA in just 15 appearances, the Blue Jays may reconsider investing nearly $8 million in him as they prepare for the 2025 season.