Romo failed to retire a batter and gave up one earned run on two hits and a walk Monday in the Giants' 12-6 loss to the Athletics in the Bay Bridge Series and confirmed his retirement from professional baseball following the appearance, Sonja Chen of MLB.com reports.
Though his 15-year career ended with a dud from a performance standpoint, Romo strictly signed with the Giants less than two weeks ago so he could get one final send-off in front of the San Francisco crowd. He received multiple ovations from the Oracle Park fans and even received a visit on the mound from former teammate Hunter Pence, handing the ball over to him before stepping off the field for the final time. A one-time All-Star and three-time World Series champion with the Giants, Romo also spent time in the Dodgers, Rays, Marlins, Twins, Athletics, Mariners and Blue Jays organizations. The 40-year-old right-hander retires with a lifetime 42-36 record, 3.21 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 204 holds and 137 saves over 821 regular-season appearances.
Romo signed a minor-league contract with the Giants on Thursday, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reports.
Romo isn't going to attempt to make the team or pitch in a regular-season game this season. Instead, the plan is for the 40-year-old to make a tune-up appearance or two and then pitch one final time in the March 27 Bay Bridge exhibition finale against the Athletics in San Francisco. That will allow him to get the send-off he deserves from Giants fans before he rides off into retirement. Romo has had a 15-year major-league career and was part of three World Series titles during his nine seasons in San Francisco.
Romo has elected free agency after he cleared outright waivers Wednesday, Mike Wilner of the Toronto Star reports.
After he was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays on Saturday, Romo cleared waivers but elected free agency instead of reporting to Triple-A Buffalo. The 39-year-old has appeared in 23 games this season with the Mariners and Blue Jays, posting a disappointing 7.50 ERA and 1.39 WHIP with 14 punchouts over 18 frames. Romo is now free to sign with whatever team he wants moving forward.
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Blue Jays' Sergio Romo: Clears waivers
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The Blue Jays outrighted Romo to Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday after he cleared waivers, Mitch Bannon of SI.com reports.
Since Romo has accrued more than five years of MLB service time, he'll have the ability to decline the outright assignment and elect free agency if he wants to pursue opportunities with another organization. The 39-year-old right-hander may be running out of chances at the big-league level, as he's now been dropped from the Mariners' and Blue Jays' 40-man rosters since the start of the season. Over his 23 appearances between the two clubs, Romo submitted a 7.50 ERA and 1.39 WHIP across 18 innings.
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Blue Jays' Sergio Romo: Designated for assignment
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Romo was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays on Saturday.
Romo joined the Blue Jays' bullpen in late June and allowed three runs (two earned) in 3.2 innings over six relief appearances with the club. However, he'll lose his spot on the 40-man roster as part of a move after Jeremy Beasley was recalled Saturday.
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Blue Jays' Sergio Romo: Takes loss in extras Friday
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Romo (0-1) took the loss Friday, giving up three runs (two earned) on one hit and one walk without recording an out in the 11th inning against the Mariners.
With the score tied 2-2 and the phantom runner at second base, the veteran right-hander walked Carlos Santana before Eugenio Suarez yanked a slider down the left-field line for a three-run, walkoff blast. The hit and the runs were the first Romo had allowed in five appearances since joining the Blue Jays, but the 39-year-old isn't likely to see much high-leverage work even if he does stick around on the roster for the long term.
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Blue Jays' Sergio Romo: Signs with Blue Jays
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Romo signed a one-year contract with the Blue Jays on Wednesday.
Romo was let go by the Mariners last week but will join Toronto's major-league bullpen on a one-year deal. The right-hander posted an 8.16 ERA and 1.53 WHIP in 14.1 innings over 17 relief appearances with Seattle this year and should serve mainly as a middle reliever for the Blue Jays. Right-hander Shaun Anderson was sent down as part of a move to make room for Romo on the active roster.
The Mariners granted Romo his unconditional release Wednesday.
Romo went unclaimed when the Mariners exposed him to waivers Monday, but rather than sticking around in the organization and reporting to Triple-A Tacoma, he'll evaluate his opportunities elsewhere. The 39-year-old right-hander looks to be nearing the end of the line, as he was roughed up for 13 earned runs on 18 hits and four walks over 14.1 innings out of the Seattle bullpen before he was cast off the 40-man roster.
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Mariners' Sergio Romo: Designated for assignment
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Romo was designated for assignment by the Mariners on Monday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.
The 39-year-old with the 86-mph fastball may have finally reached the end of his time as an effective major-league pitcher. In 14.1 innings this season, he's struggled to an 8.16 ERA and 1.53 WHIP while striking out just 16.9 percent of opposing batters. That line seemingly makes him unlikely to be claimed off waivers. Ken Giles (finger) was activated off the injured list in a corresponding move.
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Mariners' Sergio Romo: Bounces back with fourth hold
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Romo secured his fourth hold in a win over the Astros on Monday, allowing a hit and a walk while recording three strikeouts in a scoreless eighth inning.
It took Romo an elevated 26 pitches to get through his one frame, but he was able to escape it unscathed after allowing seven earned runs on six hits (four home runs) over the 1.2 innings covering his prior two outings. The right-hander's recent pair of hiccups notwithstanding, Romo has largely been a reliable bullpen asset while allowing just one earned run in his other nine appearances.
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Mariners' Sergio Romo: Rings up third hold
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Romo was credited with his third hold in a win over the Athletics on Monday, firing a scoreless two-thirds of an inning during which he issued a walk.
Romo has quickly logged five appearances since coming off a month-long stay on the injured list May 13, recording a pair of holds while posting scoreless efforts in four of those outings. The seemingly ageless veteran now sports a sterling 1.35 ERA and 0.75 WHIP across 6.2 innings over seven appearances overall.
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Mariners' Sergio Romo: Grabs second hold Sunday
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Romo secured his second hold in a win over the Mets on Sunday, firing a perfect seventh inning.
One game after logging his first appearance in over a month due to a shoulder injury, Romo was right back out there and generated an efficient 13-pitch outing. The 39-year-old appears primed for plenty of work moving forward now that he's apparently past his health issues.
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Mariners' Sergio Romo: Scoreless frame Saturday
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Romo, activated from the injured list Friday, fired a perfect ninth inning in a loss to the Mets on Saturday.
The veteran right-hander could hardly have been sharper in his first appearance since April 11, firing four of his five pitches for strikes. The veteran has opened his Mariners tenure with three straight scoreless efforts.
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Mariners' Sergio Romo: Returns from injured list
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Romo (shoulder) was activated from the 10-day injured list Friday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.
The veteran right-hander has been sidelined since April 11 due to inflammation in his right shoulder, and he'll rejoin the active roster after making one rehab appearance with Triple-A Tacoma. Romo appeared in two games prior to the injury and picked up a hold over two scoreless frames, and he figures to fill a late-inning role now that he's healthy, though save chance are likely to be infrequent.
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Mariners' Sergio Romo: Looks ready for return
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Romo (shoulder) threw a 25-pitch simulated game against Ichiro Suzuki on Friday and received rave reviews from manager Scott Servais, the Associated Press reports.
It was Romo's second throwing session in the last four days, and Servais came away from it saying that his veteran reliever looked ready to return. Romo's target return date has been during the Mariners' current homestand, and given this latest development, it seems that will come to pass.
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Mariners' Sergio Romo: Throws bullpen session
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Romo (shoulder) threw a 26-pitch bullpen session Tuesday, Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN Seattle reports.
President of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto was optimistic that Romo would be able to return sometime during the Mariners' homestand that begins Thursday, but the right-hander is scheduled to throw a live BP in the coming days. While it's a positive development that he'll be able to face hitters, the Mariners will determine whether the right-hander requires a rehab assignment based on how he feels after his live BP, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports. While his status for Seattle's homestand is in question, Romo is trending in the right direction overall.
