JoJo

Romero

Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom told reporters the deal is now official. The hard-throwing 34-year-old middle reliever fortifies St. Louis’ bullpen after recording an underwhelming 5.30 ERA — 4.40 FIP — 1.57 WHIP and 58/32 K/BB ratio across 56 innings for the Mets last year. He’s been a durable innings-eater, making 55 appearances or more in each of the past five seasons, and has some experience in high-leverage spots. He isn’t a threat to close with the Cardinals but it wouldn’t be shocking if he wound up vulturing the occasional save from Riley O’Brien or JoJo Romero.

Romero gets a $1.9 million raise while coming off his best season; he had a 2.07 ERA in a career-high 61 innings for the Cardinals. This is his final year before free agency, so he’s a trade candidate on a rebuilding club.

The 29-year-old left-hander is set to hit free agency following the 2026 season and it seems like a question of when, rather than if, he’ll be traded. The Yankees and Mariners have also expressed interest in his services this offseason. While Romero functioned as the Cardinals’ closer down the stretch in 2025, it’s more likely that he’ll wind up working in a setup role wherever he winds up for the 2026 season.

With the Cardinals in a full rebuild, moving Romero for anything they can get before he enters his final arbitration season makes plenty of sense. The Mariners have also checked in on Romero at some point this offseason. The 29-year-old southpaw posted a 2.07 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and a 55/29 K/BB ratio over 61 innings while notching eight saves for the Cardinals in 2025.

It’s the eighth save of the season for Romero, but the first one he’s claimed since September 2. The left-hander threw 13-of-19 pitches for strikes while lowering his ERA to a healthy 2.09 in 2025.

After JoJo Romero shut the Reds down in the eighth, O’Brien was called on to close things out in the ninth with a three-run lead. He tossed a clean frame, striking out one batter for his fifth save of the season. Expect O’Brien and Romero to operate in a matchup-based committee for save chances.

Although he was dealing with shoulder tightness earlier this week, O’Brien has been allowed to pitch on back-to-back days. He got the ninth today after JoJo Romero was brought in to face Rafael Devers and the middle of the order in the eighth. Both relievers did their jobs well, as they generally have since Ryan Helsley got traded. Romero would still seem to be the favorite for saves in St. Louis.

Romero got the call in the ninth inning on Tuesday to close out the game against the A’s with a one-run lead. He tossed a clean frame, striking out one batter on his way to his sixth save of the season to go with a 2.13 ERA across 49 2/3 innings.

O’Brien hasn’t been placed on the injured list, so that’s a positive. Still, that might come based on what the MRI reveals. JoJo Romero is worth using in most leagues with the Cardinals’ primary closing alternative down. Kyle Leahy could also be an option in deeper formats.

JoJo Romero entered in the seventh tonight and also got four outs while facing only three batters. Leahy gave up a pair of singles to start the ninth in a two-run game, but he then got an out at third on a sac bunt attempt from Will Banfield and he went on to retire Matt McLain and TJ Friedl to end the game. With Romero and Riley O’Brien both performing well, Leahy will probably remain third in line for saves in St. Louis, in part because the Cardinals like having him available to go multiple innings.