José

Alvarado

Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski told reporters three weeks ago that he would be surprised if Alvarado wasn’t back, and he wasn’t fibbing. The left-hander missed half of 2025 due to suspension and then ended the campaign on the injured list with a strained forearm, but he’s been one of the most effective left-handed relievers in baseball over the last few years, and will be a high-leverage option for Philadelphia in 2026.

Dombrowski didn’t commit to picking up Alvarado’s $9 million option, but it sounds like they’ll work something out. Alvarado missed half of the season because of a steroid suspension and then finished up on the IL with a strained left forearm, so he wouldn’t be entering free agency at a great time. However, the 30-year-old lefty has a 3.25 ERA and a 240/77 K/BB in 180 innings for the Phillies over the last four seasons.

Alvarado’s season is assuredly over, as he won’t be eligible to return for the postseason because of his PED suspension earlier in the campaign. The 30-year-old will likely be a free agent, as it seems unlikely the Phillies will exercise his club option for 2026 that is set for $9 million.

Alvarado was suspended for 80 games for testing positive for exogenous testosterone. The left-hander will be a mid-to-late inning option who sees a good amount of time against left-handed hitters now that he’s back in the fold.

Despite being suspended for breaking MLB rules, Alvarado gets to play in professional games while still serving his suspension. He sat 97.7 mph on his sinker, which was down almost two mph from where he was before being suspended. He has until August 19 to get that velocity back since that’s the date he is eligible to return to the Phillies’ bullpen.

The 30-year-old southpaw is finishing up the 80-game suspension that he received after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance. He’ll be eligible to return on August 19 and the Phillies plan to add him back to their bullpen at that time, though he’ll be ineligible to participate in the postseason.

Alvarado tested positive for exogenous Testosterone, according to a statement from Major League Baseball. The hard-throwing 29-year-old southpaw is also ineligible for the postseason and won’t be eligible to return until August 19. His extended absence creates a massive void in the back-end of Philadelphia’s bullpen and the fantasy fallout figures to be wide-ranging, especially if the Phillies opt to pursue a replacement on the trade market. Experienced veteran Jordan Romano is the odds-on favorite to assume the closing role, but Matt Strahm and Orion Kerkering also figure to be in the mix for save chances.

It originally looked like Alvarado would pitch the eighth tonight, but he sat down after a long seventh and Jordan Romano got the call then in a 5-3 game. Alvarado went on to pitch in the ninth after Daniel Robert struggled to retire just one of the five batters he faced, Taking over with the bases loaded in an 8-4 game, Alvarado retired both batters he faced, throwing just six pitches in the process. He should be available if there’s another save chance Saturday.

Jordan Romano set him up with a flawless eighth. Alvarado has pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings in his last six appearances. Incredibly, he’s gone 11 straight appearances without issuing a walk. This is a guy who walked 47 batters over 55 2/3 innings in his first season in Philadelphia in 2021.

Alvarado entered after Jordan Romano turned a seven-run lead into a one-run game. Still, the bases were empty at that point, and Alvarado needed to get just the one out. He did on it his second pitch of the day, as Xavier Edwards lined out to right.