Who Will Be The Blue Jays Closer?
What to do about the ninth inning?
With the Blue Jays recent decision to not tender contracts to both Dillon Tate and Jordan Romano, there is uncertainty about who the team's closer will be heading into 2025.
There are three different paths the Blue Jays could take:
INTERNAL OPTIONS
Although Romano was non-tendered and Genesis Cabrera signed elsewhere, the Blue Jays do still have Chad Green and Erik Swanson as holdovers. Green particularly stepped up admirably last year, filling in for the injured Romano.
The fans like him too. He is the clear favourite for the job heading into spring.
TRADE
It's no secret that the Blue Jays need bullpen help, perhaps even a massive overhaul. With their dearth of middle infielders, this feels like a good starting point should the Jays look to outside the organization.
Two names that come up in the past week are Milwaukee's Devin Williams and St. Louis' Ryan Helsley. While the Cardinals aren't necessarily looking to trade their All-Star closer, the Brewers seem more willing to entertain the idea of dealing Williams.
And while he won't necessarily be cheap, given that he is a free agent next year, acquiring Williams might cost less than if he still had multiple years left on his contract.
With Milwaukee looking to fill the probable departure of shortstop Willy Adames, and with the Jays having too many middle infielders, this feels like a perfect match.
Williams could also come with OF Tyler Black as well, which would fill a hole in left field for the Jays, though even obtaining Williams on his own would fulfill a need.
REUNION
Although Jordan Romano was non-tendered, it was more to do with money than health. GM Ross Atkins said that Romano's elbow is fine and that he remains open to a reunion with the former closer.
While 2024 was a lost season for Romano, the two time All-Star has announced his presence as one of the top closers in the league on his way his to becoming third all time in saves in Blue Jays history.
If the elbow is indeed fully healed, there is no reason to think that Romano won't have a bounce back year.
A return to the Blue Jays is not out of the question.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 7 | 245 ANSWERS Who Will Be The Blue Jays Closer? Who will the the Jays closer be in 2025? | ||
| Chad Green | 104 | 42.4 % |
| Devin Williams | 12 | 4.9 % |
| Jordan Romano | 24 | 9.8 % |
| Someone else | 105 | 42.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
