Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Opener or closer — Romo ready to fill role ‘outside the box’
JUPITER — Sergio Romo has served in a variety of roles throughout his 11-year majorleague career.
The 35-year-old reliever, who officially signed with the Marlins on Friday, has been a setup man, World Series closer and even an opener last season with the Tampa Bay Rays. And Romo is in favor of the eclectic profile.
So when the Marlins reached out to him this offseason and discussed their potential vision, he was on board.
“The ideas they have for me — it’s exciting,” Romo said. “I’m very outside the box myself. We talked about walking in a straight line, and I don’t think I’ve seen a straight line in my life. I don’t see why it would change now.
“I told them, ‘Whatever you guys need me to do to help every day, I’m in . ... It could be opening, it could be closing, it could be any situation 1-9.”
An All-Star reliever, Romo spent the first nine years of his career with San Francisco, winning three World Series titles (2010, ’12, ’14). As the closer in 2012, Romo was 3-for-3 in save opportunities during the World Series, pitching three perfect in-
nings.
Last season with the Rays, he made 73 appearances, posting a 4.14 ERA and 25 saves in 67 1⁄3 innings. He was used five times as an opener — a reliever who pitches one or two innings to start a game before exiting. The Marlins have seemed — wait for it — more open to the possibility of using an opener this season, and Romo could be the guy.
“As the game evolves, you have to be open-minded to do different things,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “[Romo] gives us more versatility. It gives us more options late in the game, early in the game. [It] allows us to use guys in different ways.
“He’s a guy who’s been dependable and pretty durable — a guy that bounces back pretty good. He just gives us another weapon.”
As the Dodgers’ manager from 2011-15, Mattingly went head-to-head with Romo and the Giants frequently in National League West battles. After facing him a few years, the Marlins skipper is happy Romo is now on his side.
“He was pretty irritating [to go against], honestly,” Mattingly said with a laugh. “He gave our right-handers fits.
“He’s got a number of sliders. He doesn’t throw just one; he can make it do different things. He’s got one that balloons on you. If it doesn’t start in certain areas of the plate, it looks like a ball, but it’s going to be a strike. He’s a tough look.”
A personable, introspective clubhouse presence, Romo also fills the “veteran leader” profile the Marlins have keyed in on with their offseason signings, which also include infielder Neil Walker and outfielder Curtis Granderson.
With over a decade of major-league experience, Romo is ready to also serve as a mentor and help Miami’s younger players continue their development.
“It feels good knowing [the Marlins] have confidence in me to put some pretty solid talent in front of me and allow me to hang out with them, pick their brains a little and see where they’re at,” Romo said. “Hopefully [it will] allow them an easier route to finding themselves and establishing themselves and reaching the potential the organization has in them.
“All in all, we’re here together. There’s no one better than the other. I’ve been blessed to have some pretty awesome experiences come my way and to be on some amazing teams. It’s not coming to change anybody, it’s just coming to help them figure it out — figure out who they are.”