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Former first-round pick Ricky Romero is close to signing a deal with the Giants, according to the Toronto Sun.
The left-handed pitcher hasn't pitched in the major leagues since 2013 and was released by the Blue Jays on April 25. He was in the final season of a six-year, $30.1 million deal he signed in 2010.
Selected sixth overall in the 2005 MLB Draft out of Cal State Fullerton, Romero made his big league debut with the Blue Jays on April 9, 2009.
His best season with the Blue Jays came in 2011 when he made the American League All-Star team, recorded a 2.92 ERA in 32 starts and finished 10th in AL Cy Young voting.
The next season, Romero battled control issues, as he walked a major league-leading 105 batters and posted a 5.77 ERA in 32 starts. He never got on track in 2013 and after four appearances, the Blue Jays sent him to the minors where he made 22 starts to the tune of a 5.78 ERA at Triple-A Buffalo.
After nine appearances in the minors in 2014, Romero underwent season-ending knee surgery and had been trying to rehab his way back to the majors until the Blue Jays released him two weeks ago.
In five big league seasons, Romero has a 51-45 record with a 4.16 ERA and 622 strikeouts in 801.1 innings pitched.
Hearing FA LHP Ricky Romero about to sign with the San Francisco Giants #Jays #SFGiants
— bob elliott (@elliottbaseball) May 11, 2015
