One thing the last two postseasons have shown is having a strong bullpen is huge in October.
Andrew Miller practically willed the Indians into the World Series, just a year after the Royals had won the World Series in large part thanks to Kelvin Herrera and Wade Davis, who combined for 1 earned run in 23 2/3 innings. That’s not mentioning Luke Hochevar’s 10 2/3 scoreless innings, along with the absence of then-injured All-Star closer Greg Holland (who’s also a free agent reliever).
But before Kansas City’s staff and Miller’s unhittable slider was now former San Francisco Giants reliever Sergio Romo -- with his own wipeout breaking ball.
Romo appeared on MLB Network Radio Tuesday to discuss free agency and alluded to the possibility of not playing with the only MLB club he’s known anymore.
“I’ve had teams called that I’m happy about and I’m excited about and somewhat surprised,” Romo said in his Tuesday interview. “And other teams that I figured would be calling, I haven’t gotten a call yet.”
The 2013 All-Star has served as both a reliever and a closer for the Giants and is battle-tested in the postseason, logging 23 1/3 career innings in the playoffs. In fact, he’s spread six of those innings across all three of San Francisco’s World Series titles since 2010 -- all of which are scoreless.
Romo’s major drawback? He battled a flexor strain throughout 2016, which was also the beginning of the end for Carson Smith’s 2016 campaign in Boston. But Romo hasn’t had an injury-plagued career, only making two other trips to the DL in nine seasons -- both 15-day stints.
Boston Red Sox
However, it didn’t affect Romo’s 2016 numbers, logging a 2.64 WHIP, 1.08 WHIP and a 9.68 K/9.
Romo’s not a fireballer either, generally relying on a fastball that doesn’t break 90, but has great movement. Plus, it compliments his slider well, which is his best pitch. He has seen his average fastball velocity decline since 2011 at 89.5 to 85.9 MPH in 2016, but, once again, his numbers were still good.
But forget the numbers or the postseason experience.
Romo is a fit in Boston because he’s flexible.
He can close. He can set-up. He can pitch in pretty much any scenario.
That’s not to say he’ll do what Miller did this postseason over a 162-game span -- not even Miller could do that. But he could close on a night where Craig Kimbrel can’t, he can set-up when Smith -- or someone else -- isn’t setting up, or work some other inning.
Then, if the Red Sox make the postseason, he’ll provide the team with a flexible option -- similar to Koji Uehara in 2013 before being named closer.
Romo gives John Farrell and the Red Sox options, and is definitely someone Dave Dombrowski should consider while bolstering his bullpen this offseason.