Although he lost his closing gig in 2014, Sergio Romo is a promising bounce-back candidate worthy of a prominent bullpen role.
For all the talk surrounding the Mets’ burgeoning batch of starting pitchers, the team could use some relief reinforcements in 2015. The young trio of Jeurys Familia, Vic Black, and Jenrry Mejia emerged in the back of their bullpen in 2014, but none of them are necessarily sure bets to maintain their success. They all generated BB/9 rates far north of 3.5, each with a FIP higher than his ERA. Overall, Mets relievers netted a 3.84 FIP that ranked 23rd in baseball. They’re also the only team with a fWAR below zero from their bullpen corps.
Even though Sergio Romo endured a 3.72 ERA and 3.94 FIP while losing the San Francisco Giants’ closing gig in 2014, he also maintained sterling strikeout and walk rates, issuing 59 punchouts and 12 free passes through 58 frames. After registering a 1.80 ERA in the second half, Romo helped the Giants win their third World Series in five years by allowing one run through seven postseason innings. That lowered his career playoff ERA to 2.11.
From 2010-2013, few relievers in baseball outshined the righty, who authored a 2.03 ERA alongside a 6.37 K/BB ratio that ranks third-best in baseball behind Koji Uehara and Junichi Tazawa. Buying low on Romo could yield major dividends, but his mythical "closer experience" probably won't let his value wane significantly.
Although his track record makes him an interesting addition among a group of younger arms, those saves and three championships attached to his name will inflate his asking price. The Giants routinely reward their own, and other squads could approach Romo with offers to resume his ninth-inning duty.
If Zach Duke can net three years and $15 million, Romo will get paid handsomely, and the Mets are not the club to do it with Familia, Black, Mejia and a returning Bobby Parnell vying for late-inning work. Romo is an intriguing option, but one with little chance of playing in Flushing next year unless his price drops.