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The Philadelphia Phillies have a business decision to make soon for a player who caused a major headache this past season. Hard-throwing lefty reliever José Alvarado appeared to be taking over the full-time closer role early in the year, but in May, he got hit with an 80-game suspension for a positive performance-enhancing drug test. Not only did that leave the Phillies without a key reliever for most of the summer, but he was ineligible for the playoffs as well. As Phillies fans know well, one relief pitcher’s availability could have been the difference between playoff elimination or surviving another day. But as much as Alvarado’s actions may have torpedoed their season, he still has a chance to be an impact pitcher moving forward. CLEVELAND, OHIO – JULY 23: The Philadelphia Phillies logo on a hat in the dugout during the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on July 23, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Phillies own a $9 million club option for Alvarado, which is a reasonable price for a high-leverage lefty setup man. (Jhoan Duran is now locked in as the closer.) But can the team overlook the damage Alvarado caused to bring him back for a fresh start? Cole Weintraub of NBC Sports Philadelphia believes that’s what the Phillies ultimately will do, because from a dollars and cents perspective, it makes the most sense. “Given the lack of dependable lefty depth in the organization and the uncertainty around external options, the Phillies pick up Alvarado’s $9 million option for 2026,” Weintraub wrote. “It’s a low-risk, high-upside bet on a familiar arm. For a bullpen searching for stability, that might be enough to make the gamble worth it.” In five seasons as a Phillies, Alvarado has registered a 3.48 ERA in 259 innings during the regular season, and a 4.50 ERA in 20 more innings in the playoffs. He surrendered the three-run home run to Houston Astros star Yordan Alvarez that proved fatal to the Phils’ World Series hopes in Game 6 of the 2022 Fall Classic, but he’s also come through for them on the big stage in other situations. Alvarado put the Phillies in a bind this season, and that might not be easy for those in the clubhouse to forgive. But assuming Alvarado does return, the lefty can earn back some trust slowly with each scoreless outing. More MLB: Blue Jays Tabbed Fit for Projected $75M All-Star Pitcher
