Reports: Angels Sign Two High-End Relievers

Reports: Angels Sign Jordan Romano, Drew Pomeranz to One-Year Deals

Romano’s Career

Romano established himself as one of Major League Baseball’s elite closers during his tenure with the Toronto Blue Jays. He was drafted by the club in 2014 and made his debut in 2019.

After a brief period of starting in the minor leagues, he successfully converted to a high-leverage reliever role. From 2021 through 2023, Romano was exceptionally reliable, racking up 95 saves over that span. He also posted a combined 2.37 ERA across 186 innings pitched for the Blue Jays in those years.

His dominance in the late innings earned him back-to-back All-Star selections in 2022 and 2023. His career statistics through the 2025 season stand at a 22–21 record with 113 saves and a 3.73 ERA over 272 1/3 innings. This made him one of the most successful Canadian-born closers in recent memory.

Romano’s 2025 Season

The 2025 season was a significant setback for Romano following his move to the Philadelphia Phillies. 

In 2025, Romano struggled immensely, posting a career-high 8.23 ERA with only eight saves in 49 appearances across 42 2/3 innings. His struggles were attributed, in part, to early-season wildness and a possible pitch-tipping issue. The Phillies coaching staff worked to address this issue in May. Additionally, his season was marred by injury, landing on the injured list in August with right middle finger inflammation. The injury ultimately ended his season early and contributed to his poor performance. 

Given his elite track record from 2021-2023, where he posted a dominant sub-2.40 ERA. The fact that his 2025 failures can be strongly linked to pitch-tipping and a finger injury means Romano is highly likely to see a substantial bounce-back in 2026 if he is fully healthy.

Drew Pomeranz

Pomeranz’s Career

Pomeranz’s career, which began with his debut in 2011, is marked by successful transitions between roles and numerous battles with injury. Originally a highly-touted starter—drafted fifth overall by the Cleveland Indians in 2010—he eventually found his greatest Major League success as a high-leverage reliever. 

Pomeranz was named an All-Star in 2016 while with the San Diego Padres as a starter. But it was his move to the bullpen later in his career that produced elite results. From 2020 to 2021 with the Padres, he was highly effective. He posted a 1.45 ERA across 20 games in 2020 and a 1.75 ERA over 27 games in 2021 before injuries.

Pomeranz’s 2025 Season

The 2025 season was a remarkable comeback for Pomeranz. He had not appeared in a major league game since August 2021 due to a series of arm issues, including flexor tendon surgery and subsequent elbow and shoulder problems. 

After being acquired by the Chicago Cubs in April 2025, the then-36-year-old was a stabilizing force in their bullpen. He posted an impressive 2.17 ERA and a 1.067 WHIP over 57 appearances and 49 2/3 innings pitched. He even recorded a miraculous stretch of 23 1/3 scoreless innings to start his Cubs career.

His high strikeout rate and proven ability to handle high-leverage situations despite his age (37 in 2026) made him an intriguing target for the Angels.

Even after these two moves, the Angels find themselves still a reliever short going into the season. Still, this is a good starting point for Los Angeles.