Ricky Romero Signs with San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants have agreed to terms on a minor league deal with former Toronto Blue Jays’ pitcher Ricky Romero, according to Bob Elliott from the Toronto Sun, and Jon Heyman from CBS Sports. Romero, a left-hander, was released by Toronto in April, and will report to extended Spring Training for the Giants.
Romero was the sixth overall pick by the Blue Jays in the 2005 amateur draft out of Cal State Fullerton. He is returning to his home state, as he was born in Los Angeles, and attended Theodore Roosevelt High School in LA.
Romero made his major league debut in the early goings of 2009, and looked like he was on his way to becoming one of the better lefties in the game. In his rookie year, he made 29 starts, and was 13-9 with a 4.30 ERA. In 2010, his development continued, and he was 14-9 with a 3.73 ERA in 32 starts.
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2011 seemed like the true breakout for the up-and-comer, as he finished the year 14-11 with a 2.92 ERA, 1.138 WHIP, and his first career All-Star nod. He also finished 10th in the voting for the American League Cy Young Award.
2012 was a complete reversal for Romero. He ended the year with a 9-14 record and 5.77 ERA, plus a 1.674 WHIP that was really boosted by an AL-leading 105 walks.
Romero spent most of 2013 at Triple-A Buffalo, and only managed his way into four big league games that year, going 0-2 with an 11.05 ERA. His control problems continued in the minor leagues, as he walked 63 batters in 113.2 innings at Triple-A (5 walks per nine innings). His last major league appearance came on September 25th of that year, and he allowed two runs on two hits and two walks in an inning.
2014 was spent entirely in the minor leagues, and in nine starts, Romero walked 42 batters in 37.2 innings (10.2 BB/9). His last professional outing came on June 1st, after which, Romero underwent surgery on his left knee. He never worked his way back onto the mound before being released on April 25th this year.
Overall in his career, Romero is 51-45 with a 4.16 ERA in parts of five seasons with Toronto.
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During his heyday, Romero featured five pitches: a fastball between 92 and 95 miles an hour; a two-seam fastball between 88 and 91 mph with tailing movement; a cutter with movement in to righties; a slider between 84 and 86 that is basically his fifth pitch; and a big, 12-to-6 curveball that runs about 75 mph.
Romero is still owed over $7 million from the Blue Jays for this year, plus a $600,000 buyout for next year. Because of the low cost of a minor league contract, that would make this deal essentially very low risk, and potentially, very high reward. For reference, the Giants picked up Justin Maxwell on a minor league contract.
The Giants have made a habit out of turning other team’s castoffs into pitching staff stalwarts. Pitching coach Dave Righetti and bullpen coach Mark Gardner have had their hands in a number of reclamation projects over the past few years.
Ryan Vogelsong was a journeyman who had pitched in Japan and was bouncing between minor league organizations before coming back to San Francisco. The rest, as they say, is history, as he was an All-Star in 2011, his first season back in the major leagues, and has been key to two World Series runs.
Yusmeiro Petit was pitching in the Mexican League, but since coming to San Francisco, he’s become one of the best long relievers in baseball, and without him in 2014, the Giants may not win the title. Santiago Casilla was a failed reliever with the Oakland Athletics, but since coming to San Francisco, he’s been one of the best bullpen pitchers in the game. Jeremy Affeldt was a castoff on three teams as a starter and reliever, but he’s found his niche with the Giants, and has thrived.
Romero isn’t being signed to stabilize the Giants’ rotation, which has been inconsistent at best this year. His role will be undefined, and it’s not even clear if he will be able to pitch this year. But the Giants have turned coal into diamonds before, and they will look to do it again with this once-promising lefty.