Romo implies Giants haven't called: ‘I can find happiness somewhere else'

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Once again, reliever Sergio Romo is a free agent. Unlike 2014, it's not a certainty that the 33-year-old right-hander will be back with the only organization he's ever known.

Appearing on MLB Network Radio on Tuesday afternoon, Romo was asked about his latest foray into free agency and hinted at the fact that the Giants have yet to call him.

Asked about if there are any differences between his free agency this year and in 2014, Romo offered this:

"I'm not as nervous. Have to be honest. That's a huge start. I can't sit here and say it's my first rodeo going into free agency. I don't feel wet behind the ears. The only real difference is I've had teams called that I'm happy about and I'm excited about and somewhat surprised. And other teams that I figured would be calling, I haven't gotten a call yet. So I'm just sitting here waiting around, just looking forward to going to a place where I'm wanted. Wherever I sign, it's going to be a place where they want me and they feel I can come and contribute. It's one of things I've always wanted to do. I want to go to work happy everyday. Just looking for that call."

Does Romo need to go to a team where he has to be the closer or is he open to other roles?

"I just want to pitch. I think the importance of a bullpen is at an all-time high and being part of any type of quality bullpen on a competitive team, it's just something you want to be a part of right now. It's the trend. If I get a shot to close, I'm all for it. But I'll be honest. I see myself as more of a compliment than the one to be complimented. Anywhere where I can just get some competitive innings, I'm in. Let's do it."

Romo was then asked if he wants to stay with the Giants due to unfinished business after the team's exit from the 2016 playoffs?

"To be honest, all I know is San Francisco Giants, Orange and Black. I grew up on the other side of the pendulum when it comes to the West Coast rivalry. I was humbled when I got drafted. In the roughly 12 seasons I've been in the Giants organization, minors and big leagues, I'm very proud of those years. Do I feel like I left a little bit of unfinished business there? Of course. Definitely feel that way. Do I feel as a team, as a whole, those Giants are going to be competitive and if they get those pieces that they are talking about getting, that team is going to be very tough to beat. I know what's in that clubhouse. It's not far away from being legitimately the best (team) on paper. Those guys they've got coming back in the bullpen, they are young and whatnot, but I think last year's experience, going through what we all went through, it's only going to help. They are well armed. They've got some stuff."

"But for me, I feel like more of the compliment, so if I can be more of compliment that, heck yeah, let's do it. I'd love to stay here. But at the same time, I know that I can find happiness somewhere else. I understand that now. I can see that I can find some sense of joy every day going somewhere else. Talking to other players, I hear nothing but good things about every organization they've been in. You hear somethings that kind of make you think 'I don't understand,' but it's because I've never been anywhere else. So, am I open to seeing something else? Yeah. I want to go some place where I'm wanted, I want to go to a place where I can contribute and they believe in my ability to contribute every day. I'm excited about this offseason. I'm way more excited about free agency this time than I was last time. I'm not afraid of it anymore. I understand at the end of the day, I know I can pitch, I know I can be competitive, I know I can contriubte and there's going to be a team out there - maybe it'll be the Giants, maybe they'll be one of those teams calling. But at the end of the day, I want to be happy. I want to go play somewhere where I know I'm going to be happy."

Romo is coming off a season in which he posted a 2.64 ERA and struck out 33 batters in 30.2 innings over 40 games.

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