A potentially ideal bullpen fix for Cleveland has surfaced as the Cardinals begin exploring trade options for a prominent reliever.NL

If you’re the Guardians – a small-market team that can’t always spend with the big boys – the path to contention isn’t paved with splashy signings. It’s built on smart, efficient moves around the edges.

And right now, there’s a compelling opportunity sitting in St. Louis that could raise the floor of Cleveland’s bullpen in a big way: JoJo Romero.

Romero, a left-handed reliever coming off a breakout season with the Cardinals, is reportedly drawing significant trade interest this offseason. That buzz only got louder after the Cardinals sent Sonny Gray to the Red Sox – a move that looks like the first domino in a potential teardown.

If St. Louis is open for business, Romero is the kind of arm rebuilding teams often move: productive, arbitration-eligible, and likely to fetch a decent return.

For the Guardians, this is exactly the kind of bullpen upgrade that makes sense. Romero isn’t coming in to take over the closer role – that still belongs to Cade Smith – but he could immediately slot into a high-leverage spot from the left side, potentially forming a solid late-inning duo with Erik Sabrowski.

And make no mistake: Romero’s not just a middle-tier reliever. He’s coming off a 2025 campaign where he posted a 2.07 ERA over 61 innings, notching a career-high eight saves.

That’s not just solid – that’s difference-making. He was a stabilizing force in the Cardinals’ bullpen, even after they shipped closer Ryan Helsley to the Mets.

Over his time in St. Louis, Romero has compiled a 3.00 ERA across 171 innings, showing consistency and growth since his early days with the Phillies.

Now, you might wonder why Cleveland wouldn’t just dip into free agency for bullpen help. After all, there are always plenty of relievers floating around.

But Romero is a cut above the current market. Veterans like Jalen Beeks, Danny Coulombe, Caleb Ferguson, and Drew Pomeranz are available, sure – but none bring the same upside, consistency, or recent production that Romero does.

What makes Romero particularly intriguing is how he gets it done. His fastball doesn’t light up the radar gun – it sits around 93 mph – and he’s not going to wow you with extension.

But he keeps hitters off balance and limits damage. He ranked in the 91st percentile in average exit velocity and 95th percentile in ground-ball rate last season.

That’s a perfect match for the Guardians’ elite infield defense. Put him in front of that group, and you’re maximizing his strengths.

Cleveland’s bullpen isn’t in dire straits, but it’s definitely in transition. Emmanuel Clase is away on non-disciplinary leave, and the team has already lost Jakob Junis, Kolby Allard, and Nic Enright to free agency or non-tender decisions.

That leaves some real gaps to fill. And with Chris Antonetti already signaling that the bullpen will be a priority this offseason, a move for Romero would check a lot of boxes.

This wouldn’t just be a savvy baseball move – it would send a message. A message that even with limited resources, the Guardians are serious about contending.

A message that they’re not just sitting back and hoping things break right. And maybe most importantly, a message to the fanbase that meaningful reinforcements are on the way.

JoJo Romero isn’t a household name. But for a team like the Guardians, he could be exactly the kind of under-the-radar addition that helps turn a good bullpen into a great one.