A season to forget for Jordan Romano took another hit on Tuesday.
The Philadelphia Phillies placed the Canadian reliever on the 15-day injured list with right middle finger inflammation, the team announced. The move is retroactive to Monday.
Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Romano has been dealing with the problem “for a while,” and it could have contributed to his fluctuating velocity this season.
“I would think so,” Thomson said Tuesday. “I heard about it either yesterday or the day before. They thought they had it worked out. Just inflammation in that right middle finger. I’m sure it affects his grip. Who knows how long he’s had it? Didn’t say anything. He wants to pitch.”
Romano, a native of Markham, Ont., has struggled mightily in his first year with the Phillies, pitching to a career-worst 8.23 ERA with 47 strikeouts in 49 appearances and just eight saves.
A two-time All-Star with the Toronto Blue Jays, Romano had a brutal showing against the New York Mets on Monday night, giving up four earned runs on four hits — including a homer to Luis Torrens — in the bottom of the eighth inning.
The 32-year-old joined the Phillies in the off-season on a one-year, $8.5 million deal after spending the first six years of his MLB career with the Blue Jays.
He ranked fourth among relief pitchers in saves from 2021-23, but dealt with a bevy of elbow issues in his final season in Toronto. He wound up making only 15 appearances in 2024 and was non-tendered by the Blue Jays in the off-season.
Additionally, the Phillies released righty Joe Ross, who also struggled in Monday's loss to the Mets.
Ross, also 32, was 2-1 with a 5.12 ERA in 36 relief outings and one start covering 51 innings for the Phillies. He allowed three runs on three hits and a walk in the eighth inning on Monday.
“Really just performance more than anything,” Thomson explained. “Ross is a good man, good teammate, take the ball whenever. We wanted to get a look at [Lou] Trivino.”
Trivino was called up from triple-A Lehigh Valley in a corresponding move.
The 33-year-old Trivino signed with Philadelphia as a minor league free agent on Aug. 4. He struck out seven in seven scoreless innings with Lehigh Valley.
Trivino went 3-1 with a 4.42 ERA in 37 combined appearances with the Giants and Dodgers this season. He has also pitched for the Athletics and Yankees during a six-year major league career.
“He’s not going to be afraid, that’s for sure,” Thomson said. “Stuff’s good. Fastball’s 95, 96 (mph). Cutter, slider, curveball to lefties. He’s been throwing well. Same thing with Daniel — his last three outings have been clean.”
-- With files from the Associated Press
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