JoJo Romero Unlikely to Return Before Trade Deadline
JoJo Romero Unlikely to Return Before Trade Deadline
The Cardinal Chronicle
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur
According to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Cardinals do not expect left-handed reliever JoJo Romero to be ready for activation from the 15-day injured list when he first becomes eligible to return.
Romero is recovering after being treated for appendicitis last week. While the Cardinals reportedly believe he is doing well, a return before the end of July appears unlikely.
That places his recovery timeline uncomfortably close to Major League Baseball’s Aug. 3 trade deadline.
Romero entered the second half of the season as one of the Cardinals’ more attractive potential trade candidates. The 29-year-old left-hander is scheduled to become a free agent following the season, making him a logical rental option for a contender looking to strengthen its bullpen.
Through 43 innings this season, Romero has posted a 3.35 ERA with 43 strikeouts and 16 walks. He has remained one of the Cardinals’ more dependable left-handed relief options and has experience pitching in the later innings.
His placement on the injured list does not prevent the Cardinals from trading him. Injured players can still be dealt, but the uncertainty surrounding Romero’s return could affect both the number of interested clubs and the quality of offers St. Louis receives.
A contending team acquiring Romero would want confidence that he could return quickly enough to contribute during the stretch run. If his absence extends into August, potential buyers may be reluctant to offer full value for a pitcher who is both injured and only under contract through the remainder of the season.
The timing also creates a difficult decision for the Cardinals.
If St. Louis remains in the National League Wild Card race, holding onto Romero could make sense. A healthy Romero would provide valuable left-handed depth for the bullpen during the final two months of the season.
If the Cardinals decide to sell, however, the injury may have reduced their leverage at precisely the wrong time.
Romero’s absence also leaves the Cardinals without one of their most experienced late-inning relievers during a critical portion of the schedule. The club will need other members of the bullpen to absorb higher-leverage innings while he continues his recovery.
For now, the Cardinals will monitor Romero’s progress and hope he can return sometime in early August. Whether that return comes in a St. Louis uniform may depend on how quickly he recovers, where the Cardinals stand in the postseason race and what offers arrive before the trade deadline.
The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports & MiLB Today
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Photo Credit: JoJo Romero, St. Louis Cardinals | Nevada Sports Net