The Philadelphia Phillies have had an incredible 2025 MLB season so far. From the incredible heroics of Kyle Schwarber and his 51 home runs to the trade deadline pickups of Harrison Bader and Jhoan Duran, turning the team around, the Phillies have had plenty of great moments this season.
But there have been plenty of negative moments as well. Early in the year, the most noteworthy negative was the 80-game, plus postseason, suspension for Jose Alvarado. He missed the bulk of the year after starting off strong, and just recently, he hit the injured list, ending his 2025 season.
Bob Nightengale of USA Today, following the placement of Alvarado on the injured list, is urging the Phillies to make an important decision with Alvarado this offseason. After the years of brilliance in Philadelphia, Nightengale is urging the Phillies to move on from their polarizing southpaw reliever.
Phillies urged to move on from Jose Alvarado
Alvarado is not a free agent in the traditional sense this offseason, as the Phillies have a $9 million player option to consider this winter. But, after his suspension and his placement on the injured list to finish the regular season, Nightengale thinks the Phillies should move on.
"Alvarado has a $9 million club option for 20226, but considering how much he let them down this season." Nightengale writes, "It would make the most sense to buy out his $500,000 option and say goodbye."
Such a decision would be an unfortunate way for his Phillies tenure to end. Alvarado came to Philadelphia in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays ahead of the 2021 MLB season. In the years since coming to Philadelphia, he's been a solid reliever.
Across 259 games pitched, Alvarado has a 3.48 ERA with the Phillies, including a 17-12 record and 37 saves with 308 strikeouts and 124 walks in 235.2 innings pitched.
He was wild at times for the Phillies and wasn't nearly as trustworthy as some of the current Phillies relievers (especially Jhoan Duran). But his time in Philadelphia could be coming to a close after five strong years with the team.
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Alvarado was never an All-Star, nor was he the team's leading closer. But his presence in the bullpen was a welcome one, even in 2025 after coming back from his suspension.
After landing on the injured list, cementing his absence for the rest of the season, Nightengale's urging to move on from Alvarado isn't far-fetched. His suspension was a disappointing one for the Phillies, and could still hurt the team immensely.
Without Duran, the Phillies would be without a closer. The team is hurting for another strong left-handed reliever, a role that Alvarado would've been perfect for. But he's now sitting in the dugout for the rest of the year, as the Phillies will look to win the World Series without him.
Cutting ties with Alvarado in the offseason is on the table for the Phillies and wouldn't be a drastic decision to make. His 3.81 ERA this season, thanks to his struggles after returning following missing 80 games, didn't help his case to stick on the roster.
Between Matt Strahm, Duran, Tanner Banks, Orion Kerkering, and others, Alvarado doesn't have as important a role for the Phillies anymore. 2025 could be his final season in a Phillies uniform, which would be an unfortunate end to a fun career in Philadelphia.
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