SAN FRANCISCO β Free agent reliever Sergio Romo is closing in on a $15 million, two-year contract with the San Francisco Giants, a person with knowledge of the negotiations said Wednesday.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because a final detail remained to be worked out and the agreement was subject to a physical scheduled for Thursday. Romo could earn an additional $500,000 annually in performance bonuses based on games finished.
The 31-year-old right-hander has spent all seven of his big league seasons with San Francisco, helping the Giants win three World Series championships in the past five years. He went 6-4 with a 3.72 ERA with 23 saves in 64 outings last season as San Francisco earned the wild card and went on to win it all against Kansas City.
Romo and Santiago Casilla have shared the closer job in recent years, with Casilla again taking over ninth-inning duties in 2014 after Romo blew three saves in June β a move by manager Bruce Bochy that paid off down the stretch.
Giants general manager Brian Sabean had a strict to-do list in what has been a quiet offseason so far for the reigning champions. It all began with trying to re-sign third baseman Pablo Sandoval, who received a $95 million, five-year deal from Boston last month, saying he needed a βnew challenge.β
San Francisco was in the running for left-hander Jon Lester at the winter meetings earlier this month, but the pitcher opted to join the Chicago Cubs on a $155 million, six-year contract.
