Cardinals pursuit of a left-handed reliever involves their old friend

Recent reports have given Cardinals fans their first free-agent aspirations. According to Derrick Goold of the STL Post-Dispatch, the Redbirds are interested in a reunion with southpaw reliever JoJo Romero. 

Jeff Jones of the Bellville News chimed in on X, stating interest is “mutual” between the two parties. 

Could JoJo Romero be a good fit to return to St. Louis?

Romero,  30, was with St. Louis from the latter half of 2022 through the first half of 2026. During his tenure, he was one of baseball’s most consistent lefty relievers. 

His magnum opus came in 2025, when he tossed 61 innings with a 2.07 ERA and locked down 8 saves. This past year, split between the Cards and World Champion Brew Crew, Romero etched a 3.36 ERA in 56.1 innings. 

He’s durable, reliable, and a fun watch. Cardinal fans have been almost spoiled by Romero’s automatic sweeper/sinker combo coming out of the pen. 

After he departed at the trade deadline, the Cardinals’ bullpen was impacted tremendously. With no 1A southpaw to turn to, left-handed foes became insurmountable. Anyone can recall how the season ended. With lots of blown saves. 

Sportrac projects Romero to earn a four-year, $26 million deal. At a glance, that seems scary high. But look again!

The Atlanta Braves just made the first “real” signing of the offseason. Evan Phillips to The A. Three years. Thirty-five million. 

Wow. 

That’s big money for a reliever with a lengthy injury history. If you look past his obvious performance, it’s like when the Cardinals signed Andrew Kittredge. But can you imagine if they forked over three years!? 

Good for Phillips, bad for the Birds. This will factor into Romero’s demands, and if you felt the initial projection was high, it may end up being the reality. 

St. Louis, while keeping the door open to any opportunities that are thrown their way, has acknowledged that payroll will not increase substantially. POBO Chaim Bloom is staying the course with the army of prospects he’s amassed since his arrival. 

With that comes the challenge of improving a bullpen without offering a single arm a four-year deal. Despite Romero’s Cardinal continuity, relievers are effervescently volatile. Four years? No thanks. 

Some savvy, low-radar pivots could include: Brent Suter, Taylor Rogers, Brooks Raley, and Brock Burke. All of whom are left-handed hurlers. 

The Cardinals rumor mill has begun. It’s a fun ride, but don’t get too crazy. 

Romero back in The Lou would be a sight for sore eyes, but if you have to break the bank, a lateral would be best. 

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