PHILADELPHIA — In a Phillies bullpen with myriad question marks this season, one of the few constants was Jose Alvarado. That certainty was erased Sunday by self-inflicted means.
Alvarado was suspended 80 games by Major League Baseball for violating its policy on performance-enhancing drugs. His suspension begins with Sunday’s game against Pittsburgh, and he’ll be eligible for reinstatement Aug. 19. He is ineligible for the postseason in 2025.
Dave Dombrowski, the Phillies president of baseball operations, said the team first heard of the possibility of a failed drug test in Tampa 10 days ago. It stemmed from a single failed test from Alvarado, detecting exogenous testosterone that the club said originated from a weight-loss drug the pitcher took in the offseason. The Venezuelan left-hander accepted the suspension Sunday after deciding not to appeal.
Alvarado was not available for comment Sunday.
“We’ve got to move on,” manager Rob Thomson said. “It’s too bad, but we’ve got to move on. We have really good pieces here that can pick up the slack.”
Alvarado had moved into the primary closer role for the Phillies this year, going 4-1 with seven saves and a 2.70 ERA. The left-hander is fifth in baseball in average velocity on his fastball at 99.6 mph. Alvarado turns 30 Wednesday.
The lefty has been with the Phillies for five seasons and was a big part of the run to the 2022 World Series, pitching in 12 games that postseason. He won’t take part in that this year, and the company line from Dombrowski and Thomson was to treat Alvarado’s sudden absence like an injury, echoing recent absences of Bryce Harper for extended periods of time.
“It’s disappointing for sure,” Dombrowski said. “There’s no question about that. Other issues have come up at various times. To me, I end up treating it like an injury, because you need to replace somebody for 80 games and then hopefully into the postseason. He’s not eligible for that time period.”
In addition to a reliable reliever, the Phillies also lose a sizeable clubhouse presence, one who Dombrowski said was remorseful about the situation.
“He’s very emotional about it, because, A) he did not want to do this,” he said. “And then secondly, he feels like he let people down. And he’s very emotional about that, and it’s understandable.”
“I just talked to the club at 11:30 and guys were kind of shocked,” Thomson said. “But then again, they realize that we’ve got business to take care of. It’s out of our control. It’s out of their control. We’ve just got to keep moving forward.”
Alvarado was replaced on the active roster by Jose Ruiz, who has been on the injured list since May 3 with neck spasms. Ruiz was scheduled to be recalled Monday when Sunday’s starter, MLB debutant Mick Abel, was to return to the minors, and Dombrowski did not have information on who the corresponding move to Abel’s demotion Monday would be.
Ruiz is one of many relievers who will have to take down bigger and higher-leverage roles. Jordan Romano, Orion Kerkering and Matt Strahm figure to inherit more of the ninth. Tanner Banks moves up to higher-leverage left-handed spots. Thomson signaled Joe Ross as someone due for bigger spots.
The Phillies have a surfeit of starting pitchers, particularly if Aaron Nola gets right after his IL stint. Dombrowski said he doesn’t envision touching the rotation at the moment, in particular with Ranger Suarez pitching so well. And while Suarez might be a bullpen option in the postseason as he was in 2022, the Phillies may need to use the trade market to convert their surplus of starting pitchers into relievers just to get there.
Source: Berkshire mont