A’s agree to terms with relievers Yusmeiro Petit, Sergio Romo
Feb. 15—The A's are bringing back Yusmeiro Petit and adding another experienced right-hander to their bullpen mix in Sergio Romo, the former Giants reliever.
Petit and the A's have agreed on a one-year deal for $2.55 million plus incentives, according to his agent Rafael Godoy. Romo also intends to sign a one-year deal; ESPN reported it's for $2.25 million. Both deals are pending physicals.
Late in a slow offseason, the A's have made several moves to fortify a bullpen that was thinned by free agency after leading the majors in ERA last year. Last weekend, general manager David Forst said the A's were honing in on relievers who could “add to the experience in our bullpen.” Oakland also acquired left-handed reliever Adam Kolarek in a trade with the Dodgers on Friday.
Petit, 36, has been a valuable and versatile part of the A's bullpen over the last three seasons, compiling a 2.73 ERA in 180 regularseason games in that span. Petit led the American League with 80 appearances in 2019 and last year was 2-1 with a 1.66 ERA in a team-high 26 outings.
Along with durability, Petit arguably has become manager Bob Melvin's most trusted reliever in mid-inning jams. Petit has entered nearly half of his appearances the past two years with at least one runner on base and allowed fewer than 25% (19 of 78) to score.
Romo, 38 next month, pitched for the Giants from 2008-2016 and the Dodgers, Rays, Marlins and Twins in the past four seasons. He went 1-2 with a 4.05 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 20 innings last season with the Twins and logged at least 55 outings each of the previous three years.
The side-winding righthander is still heavily reliant on his slider, which he threw a career-high 64.3% of the time in 2020 and is a challenge for hitters to square up. Romo ranked in the top 10% among MLB pitchers in opponents' exit velocity in 2018 and 2019, per Baseball Savant, and remained in the top 20% last season before the Twins declined his $5 million 2021 option.
Romo also brings ninthinning experience to an A's team that's entering spring training without a defined closer to replace Liam Hendriks. Romo has 134 career saves, including 25 in 2018 and 20 in 2019. He wasn't asked to close often by the Twins but did record five saves last season.
Giants fans remember Romo closing out their 2012 World Series title and as a bullpen stalwart in their 2010 and 2014 championship seasons. Romo and Petit were teammates on the Giants' 2014 World Series team.