Ricky Romero

39-Year-Old PitcherP

Free Agent

2024 Stats

W-L

0-0

ERA

0.00

WHIP

0.00

Rest-of-Season Projections

W-L

ERA

WHIP

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2024 Fantasy Outlook

There was no outlook written for Ricky Romero in 2024. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.

Bats R

Throws L

40 Man No

Height 6'1"

Weight 195

DOB 11/6/1984

Drafted 1st Rd 2005

Playing days over

PFree Agent

January 18, 2019

Romero announced Friday in a personal essay posted on Sportsnet.ca that he has retired from baseball.

ANALYSIS
Romero, 34, was the No. 6 overall pick in the vaunted 2005 first-year player draft. The lefty was one of nine first-round selections in the class to make an MLB All-Star team, but Romero never came close to replicating the 2.92 ERA and 1.14 WHIP over 225 innings he delivered for the Blue Jays in 2011. Romero suffered from extreme bouts of wildness throughout the 2012 season and was banished to the minors following 2013 spring training. He made just four appearances at the big-league level thereafter, bouncing around multiple levels of the minors and spending time in the Mexican League before he was out of baseball in 2018. The 34-year-old officially wraps up his once-promising big-league career with a 51-45 record, 4.16 ERA and 1.40 WHIP over 129 outings (127 starts) over parts of five seasons, all with Toronto.

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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Ricky Romero See More

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May 1, 2016

Jeff Erickson looks through the week's best NL waiver options and highlights some top prospects who could soon get the call to the majors, including the Phillies' Nick Williams

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Spring Training Job Battles: Opportunity Knocks

March 14, 2014

The rash of injuries in the Braves' rotation has opened up an unexpected competition this spring.

Spring Training Job Battles: An Early Look

February 21, 2014

Now that spring training is in full swing, Brian Pelowski looks around the league at jobs that are up for grabs. Can Miguel Sano become the Opening Day starter at third base in Minnesota?

Past Fantasy Outlooks

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

Oh Ricky, Ricky, Ricky. Romero is an extreme, but also instructive example of why owners should almost never give pitchers contracts in fantasy baseball. Romero showed improvements in each of his first three seasons, lowering his ERA and WHIP and raising his K:BB ratio each year. And then it all fell apart in his fourth season (2013). He made another 32 starts, but every key metric regressed sharply. He lost all feel and command for his stuff and wound up with a 5.77 ERA. Last year was even worse as he lasted just seven innings plus another 38 in the minors before knee surgery cut his wretched season short. The knee has been a problem since 2012 and definitely played a role in the initial fall, but can he recapture his form once healed? He is still due $7.5 million in 2015, which bodes well for him at least getting a try if he is healthy. The fantasy community shouldn’t be as willing to give Romero a shot without seeing something on the field first.

A former building block in the Toronto organization, Romero spent 2013 trying to prove himself at Triple-A Buffalo, after posting a hideous 5.77 ERA with the Blue Jays in 2012. The reclamation project didn't yield positive results, as Romero struggled to the tune of a 5.78 ERA during his time in Buffalo. He did get a bit better throughout the season, but Romero never looked like his former self. Heading into 2014, the Blue Jays probably aren't counting on anything from Romero, and it won't be surprising if he spends another year in the minors.

While some may have projected slight regression for Romero, few thought he would fall completely off the map, posting a career high ERA (5.77) and WHIP (1.67). Shortly after the season concluded, Romero had surgery on his left elbow and plasma injections to both knees, causing more questions heading into next year. If healthy, he is guaranteed a starting role and will be more likely to bounce back if injuries played a role in his struggles. Given the uncertainty regarding his health throughout last season, it's difficult to put much stock into his 2012 numbers.

Romero took another step forward in his third season, establishing himself as one of the top starters in the American League. He got even better as the season wore on (8-3, 2.72 ERA, 1.023 WHIP in the second half) thanks to a blistering August. For the second straight season, Romero chipped away at his walk rate (3.20 BB/9IP) and it paid off. Life in the Jays' division is never going to be easy on pitchers, but you can expect another fine season from Romero as he heads up the Blue Jays' starting rotation.

Romero enjoyed a breakout season in 2010 for Toronto in just his second year in the majors. His control (3.5 BB/9IP) is still an issue, but his ability to keep the ball in the park has kept it from doing much damage to his ERA. It was a nice encore to a rookie season that saw him slump badly in the second half after a quick start. Life in the AL East comes with its share of bumps and bruises, but he's a good bet to repeat if he can improve his control a tick and will return as the team's ace.

Romero won a rotation spot last spring and got off to a fast start (7-3, 3.00 ERA, 1.264 in 13 starts before the All-Star break) but struggled with his command and slumped badly in the second half (5.54 ERA, 1.769 WHIP in 16 starts). It's worth noting that there's really nothing in his history in the minors to support his success in the season's first half so that's a cause for some concern. He'll be back at the top of the Jays' rotation but may struggle in a tough AL East division.

Romero has struggled at Double-A in each of the past two seasons, though he never really was much of a prospect. A 1.59 WHIP, 4.96 ERA, suspect control and mediocre strikeout rates at Double-A don't point to much success in the majors, though he did fare slightly better in seven starts at Triple-A. There's nothing here separating him from myriad other so-so prospects.

Romero battled elbow and shoulder problems for much of 2006 and was limited to just 18 starts at Double-A New Hampshire (88.1 innings, 98 hits, 51 walks and 80 K). While it's nice to see his K/9 rate return after a drop at Double-A the season prior, the walk rate is still way too high to be effective as he advances. A brief stint in the AFL, mostly in relief, was better but there are still major control concerns going forward. His future could be out of the bullpen.

Romero posted solid numbers during 10 starts at high-A Dunedin before being promoted to Double-A New Hampshire, where his K:BB and K/9 dropped. He'll likely begin the 2007 season at Double-A and should improve enough to see some time at Triple-A Syracuse by year’s end.

Romero, the sixth overall pick in the 2005 draft, signed quickly and made eight starts at High-A Dunedin. His numbers weren't jaw-dropping, but look for Romero to begin the 2006 season at Double-A.

More Fantasy News

Released by Giants

PFree Agent

April 30, 2017

Romero was released from the Giants' Triple-A Sacramento affiliate Saturday.