The Philadelphia Phillies made a massive move at the 2025 MLB trade deadline, acquiring Jhoan Duran from the Minnesota Twins to be their new closer. While the Phillies might've made such a big splash regardless, there was an underlying reason why they made this move.
Jose Alvarado, after starting the year strong, was suspended for 80 games for PEDs, missing the majority of the season and also being ineligible for the playoffs. In the final year of his contract, the question became whether he'd be back for the Phillies next year.
During the Phillies' end-of-season press conference, Dave Dombrowski hinted at what the Phillies are strongly considering regarding Alvarado, and the lefty reliever will likely be back in Philadelphia for the 2026 MLB season.
Phillies likely to bring Jose Alvarado back for 2026 season
As Todd Zolecki of MLB.com shared, "It sounds like Jose Alvarado will be back next year. Phillies have a $9 million club option, but Dave Dombrowski said that decision will be made later."
It sounds like José Alvarado will be back next year. Phillies have a $9 million club option, but Dave Dombrowski said that decision will be made later.
— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) October 16, 2025
Alvarado missed the majority of the year, but when he did play, before the suspension, he was one of the better relievers in baseball. In the 20 games before his suspension, he had a 2.70 ERA with 25 strikeouts and seven saves.
After coming back from the suspension, he struggled, pitching to a 7.50 ERA in eight games, allowing three home runs, two more than he allowed in the first 20 games of the year, and striking out only seven batters.
The southpaw reliever has a $9 million player option for 2026, and while the Phillies haven't made any official decision regarding that option, they could elect to use it and keep Alvarado for one more year.
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While the option is the most likely path to keeping Alvarado, they could also decline the option and then re-sign him for cheaper, as he might not have the same market as other relievers in baseball due to his suspension.
But, regardless of how the Phillies do it, Dombrowski indicated that Alvarado is coming back for another year to bolster the bullpen. He'd be joining Duran, Matt Strahm, Tanner Banks, Orion Kerkering, and likely another free agent addition in the Phillies bullpen.
The 30-year-old reliever has a 3.48 ERA in his five years with the Phillies. While he's struggled at times, he's also been dominant. Keeping him will give the Phillies more arms in the bullpen and would further highlight the need for another right-handed reliever in the offseason.
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