It appears the Toronto Blue Jays will need a new closer next season.

Ahead of Friday’s 8 p.m. ET non-tender deadline, the club opted not to tender a contract to right-hander Jordan Romano, ESPN’s Jeff Passan first reported. The 31-year-old hurler was due a projected $7.75 million in arbitration per MLB Trade Rumors and now becomes a free agent, entering the open market despite previously having one season of club control remaining.

Romano, who made his final appearance on May 29 before undergoing elbow surgery that forced him to miss the rest of 2024, completed only 15 relief outings and struggled to a 6.59 ERA over 13.2 innings. He converted eight of his nine save opportunities during his fourth season as the team’s primary closer.

The Markham, Ont., native recorded the second-most saves (72) in the majors from 2022-23, behind only Cleveland’s Emmanuel Clase (86) in that span.

Non-tendering Romano — a two-time All-Star — likely signals the Blue Jays were concerned about the health of his elbow after setbacks prevented him from returning to game action before last season concluded. Perhaps he could return to the organization on a multi-year, cost-effective contract.

It’s an unfortunate outcome for both the team and the player but a necessary one amidst an off-season where every dollar matters for this front office.

In addition to Romano, Toronto also non-tendered fellow righty Dillon Tate, who was projected to earn $1.9 million via arbitration, according to MLBTR’s projections. He made four appearances with the franchise after being claimed off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles, pitching to a 4.66 ERA with three walks and four strikeouts across 3.1 innings.

The Blue Jays tendered contracts to their seven remaining arbitration-eligible players, including Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Daulton Varsho, Alejandro Kirk, Ernie Clement, Alek Manoah, Erik Swanson, and Zach Pop (out of options), Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith and Shi Davidi reported.

Davidi also added the Blue Jays avoided arbitration with Swanson by agreeing to a new contract, although the details of that deal have yet to be reported.

After non-tendering Romano and Tate, general manager Ross Atkins will have several holes to fill in a bullpen that finished 29th in ERA (4.82) and 30th in FIP (4.84) and fWAR (-2.5) in 2024, with locating a new closer undoubtedly management’s most daunting challenge.