Philly Front Office

Let me be the last to let you know about the signing but the first to warn you that Romano cheese jokes are coming. They will be grating. SEE WHAT I MEAN!!!

Anyway, the deal is one year for $8.5m, not a lot of cheddar. This is a gouda, low risk, high reward signing for a guy who was dominant as recently as 2 seasons ago. His arm was fried most of last year, which looks like the only hole in his platter of seasons. Best queso scenario, he is looking sharp again and will be slotted into the back end of the bullpen pecorino order.

Overall, this puts the team right around $290m for luxury tax purposes. Let’s brie honest though, they will not manchego crazy spending. They probably fondu not want to go over the $301m 4th level threshold. They still might, but it is not a blanco check situation. Every dollar over that level gets taxed at 110%. Basically, any additions will cost double.

This does not mean Romano will be the provolone addition. Trade rumors have swirled about Alec Bohm, Ranger Suarez, and Nick Castellanos. Combined they are about $40m in salary. I am swisspicious of any Nick trade though because we would likely have to paneer down most of his salary. So let’s say $20m. That puts us at around $30m to spend but now we would need a 3rd baseman, outfielder, starter, and another bullpen piece (Maybe Pepperjack Flaherty? Too bad Colby Rasmus is retired). That’s not going to work. I don’t think Middleton camembert to lose the off season knowing he bleu a chance to help the team. He is feta-up with losing.

Any way you slice it, there are more additions to be made. I havarti you covered. Don’t worry, take it cheasy.

“Why do they call it high cheese? Because its pasteurized…get it, past your eyes.” – Scott Clayton