Phillies Release Joe Ross, Place Jordan Romano On IL, Recall Daniel Robert, And Call Up Lou Trivino
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 6: Jordan Romano #68 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citizens Bank Park on April 6, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Dodgers 8-7. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
The Phillies are finally mixing up their bullpen with a series of needed moves.
Following their embarrassing 13-3 loss to the New York Mets, the Phils announced Tuesday afternoon that they have released right-handed pitcher Joe Ross and placed right-handed pitcher Jordan Romano on the 15-day injured list with right middle finger inflammation. In their places, the team recalled right-handed pitcher Daniel Robert from Triple-A and selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Lou Trivino.
The moves don’t come as a shock to many, as both Romano and Ross have far and away been the team’s two worst pitchers all season long. Ross signed a one-year $4 million contract in free agency this past winter and was in line to fight for a starting spot in the rotation. However, not only did that not happen, but when Ross was moved into a bullpen role, he struggled nearly right away.
In 2025, Ross posted a 5.12 ERA in 51 innings pitched, giving him the second-worst ERA in the bullpen. He also totaled 39 strikeouts, 18 walks, and allowed 57 hits and eight home runs in his 51 innings pitched. Ross had essentially become the team’s “innings eater” as whenever he was pitching in games, the team was either blowing someone out or getting blown out themselves.
As for Romano, this move seems to be one to keep him in the organization while not having to carry him on the active roster. Romano could have very likely been released alongside Ross, but the Phillies will give him time to hopefully rehab whatever injury is affecting him while also giving him a chance to improve his in-game issues in the minor leagues.
This year, Romano has been downright dreadful, increasing his season ERA to 8.23 last night after giving up four earned runs in the series-opening loss to the Mets. His 8.23 ERA is the third-highest single-season ERA for a reliever in Phillies history with a minimum of 40 innings pitched.
He has pitched 42.2 innings, striking out 47 batters, but also allowing 45 hits and 10 home runs. He was brought in from free agency to potentially be the team’s closing pitcher, but those plans changed quickly after his early struggles, especially in late innings.
In their place come two pitchers whom the Phillies have acquired at some point this season, in Robert and Trivino. For Robert, this is his third stint of the year with the Phillies, after previously pitching with the team back in June and into early August, before being placed on the IL with a finger injury. This season, Robert has posted a 5.79 ERA in 9.1 innings pitched and has mainly been used in low-leverage situations.
As for Trivino, this will be the third team he has pitched for this season, following appearances from the Dodgers and Giants. Trivino, a Pennsylvania and Montgomery County native, has pitched 38.2 innings this year, posting a 4.42 ERA. He signed with the Phillies after being released in late July by the Dodgers, and spent the last month in Lehigh Valley, where he did not allow a run in seven innings pitched.
Matt Brown
Matt has been a Philadelphia sports fan all his life and spent four years at Penn State University majoring in Broadcast Journalism and minoring in Sports Studies. He previously covered Penn State’s field hockey, men’s and women’s basketball, and baseball teams while writing for a Penn State blog called Onward State. He has now covered the Phillies, Eagles, and Sixers for Philly Sports Reports since October 2024 and wants to pursue a career in Sports Journalism.
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