Henderson

Alvarez

It was reported last week that Alvarez would be joining the Pirates on a minor league contract, but here’s the tweet that the 30-year-old right-hander sent out late Sunday night: “I want you to know that the signing with the [Pirates] did not materialize, I return to the independent league again, reasons why they signed another player, I’m still looking for a new opportunity and we’re still here working hard.” Alvarez, a National League All-Star in 2014 with the Marlins, hasn’t appeared in a major league game since September 2017 with the Phillies.

The news comes courtesy of Robert Murray, formerly of The Athletic. Alvarez had been pitching with the independent league Milwaukee Milkmen and evidently caught the eye of the Pirates. The 30-year-old hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2017, having battled multiple shoulder problems.

The free agent right-hander touched 95 mph with his fastball during the session. Alvarez, 29, has only pitched three games in the big leagues since 2015. He spent the 2019 season in the Nationals’ organization where he compiled a 5.94 ERA, 1.62 WHIP and 37/18 K/BB ratio over 53 innings at Triple-A Fresno.

Alvarez was an All-Star in 2014 when he posted a 2.65 ERA for the Marlins, but he’s made just seven starts in the big leagues since then due to a multitude of shoulder problems. Still just 28, Alvarez spent 2018 pitching in the Mexican League.

Alvarez struck out four and walked two in the game. He had pitched fairly well in his first two starts of the young season, but the wheels fell off the train in this one. Desmond Jennings and Evan Longoria each took him out of the yard in a three-run fifth inning. He’ll attempt to get back on track when he takes on the Orioles in Baltimore next week.

Alvarez tallied just one strikeout and walked three, while four of the six hits he allowed went for extra bases. He was able to limit the damage, however, in being quality for the fourth time in five starts. Alvarez has puzzlingly notched only nine strikeouts in 32 1/3 innings, but is still the owner of a 3.62 ERA and 1.11 WHIP. His K-rate is going to have to increase if he wants those other two numbers to hold.

Alvarez walked two and didn’t record a strikeout in the game. He did a great job of keeping Orioles hitters off balance, though, generating 15 groundball outs. He’s now 0-2 on the season, and will again go searching for his first victory when he takes on the Mariners next.

Alvarez struck out two and walked three in the game. The lone blemish on his night was Josh Willingham’s solo homer in the sixth inning. He improves to 3-2 on the season with the win and lowers his ERA to an impressive 2.61. He’ll try to keep the ball rolling when he takes on the Rays at home on Tuesday.

He struck out a pair, with the only blemish coming in the form of a Dustin Pedroia solo shot. Alvarez deserved the win, but Sergio Santos let three runs cross the plate in the ninth. The soon-to-be 22-year-old probably won’t have gaudy strikeout totals, but he should still have some value at the back-end of mixed league rotations. Alvarez faces the Orioles next.

Alvarez was hit in the foot by a throw on Sunday and headed straight for the trainer’s table. But he only suffered a bruise and should have no restrictions going foward. The young right-hander is in line for a starting rotation spot this season after posting a cool 3.53 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 40/8 K/BB ratio in 10 starts last year.