CLEVELAND, OHIO - JULY 22: A closeup view of the Philadelphia Phillies logo prior to a game against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on July 22, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images)
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The Philadelphia Phillies made a big change this week when they replaced manager Rob Thomson with bench coach Don Mattingly, but it isn’t immediately clear if that will be enough to turn their season around.
Though Mattingly’s fresh perspective might help the Phillies earn some more wins, there’s reason to believe the team’s bigger problems lie in the roster construction.
“Donnie Baseball isn’t going to fill the cleanup hole. He’s not going to throw pitches for Aaron Nola, and he’s not going to make (JT) Realmuto’s back feel better,” Marcus Hayes wrote for The Philadelphia Inquirer. “Mattingly will get a chance the rest of this season to squeeze as much success out of the flawed roster (president of baseball operations Dave) Dombrowski compiled — a roster crippled by the $34 million wasted this season on Taijuan Walker and Nick Castellanos, whom the Phillies have released.”
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As Dombrowski’s roster decisions face new scrutiny after Thomson’s departure, Phillies fans have received an update on another recent disappointment, as the Los Angeles Angels released reliever Jordan Romano shortly after his disappointing stint in Philadelphia.
“Players with at least five years of major league service time have the right to reject outright assignments to the minor leagues, instead electing free agency while retaining their salaries,” MLB Trade Rumors’ Darragh McDonald noted. “The Halos have seemingly skipped that formality and opted to release Romano. They will remain on the hook for the remainder of his $2MM salary for now.”
After five seasons and two All-Star stints with the Toronto Blue Jays, Romano’s sixth and final season with the team was derailed by injury. Following that setback and with a significant need for a true closer in the Phillies’ bullpen, Dombrowski signed Romano to a one-year, $8 million contract in December 2024 that ranks among the executive’s worst decisions in hindsight.
Romano went on to post an 8.23 ERA in just 49 games with the Phillies and he joined the Angels one year after signing his Phillies’ contract.
After just 11 games with his newest team, Romano is now a free agent once again and he could have trouble finding another major-league opportunity.
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Though the Phillies and Dombrowski have plenty to worry about with their current crop of players, Romano’s release is a reminder of yet another one of the team’s recent signings that resulted in disappointment.
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