Giants sign Ricky Romero to minor-league deal

The Giants have agreed to a minor-league deal with left-hander Ricky Romero as first reported by Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun. Romero was recently released by the Blue Jays after not appearing in the major leagues since 2013 and struggling with injuries and inconsistency in the minor leagues.

Romero, 30, will likely join one of the Giants' minor-league affiliates as a reclamation-project type for the club. The southpaw was one of the most effective starters in the majors as of 2011, when he posted a 15-11 record and 2.92 ERA in 32 starts while being named to the AL All-Star team and finishing tenth in Cy Young voting.

Since then, he struggled to a 5.77 ERA in 32 starts in 2012 before being optioned to the minors and struggling at various levels throughout the 2013 season. In 2014, Romero made only nine starts at Triple-A for the Jays due to knee injuries before being released in late April.

Romero is in the final year of a five-year, $30.1 million contract that he signed with the Jays in 2010, meaning that Toronto will have to pay him $7.5 million this year despite him not appearing in a game for their organization. Romero will hope to reclaim the form that led to his early-career success, and appears to be looking to change scenery by signing on with the Giants.