Jose Alvarado’s Suspension Puts Phillies in Very Difficult Spot

The Phillies last made the World Series largely on the back of Jose Alvarado, who provided stellar relief down the stretch and into the playoffs for the 2022 club.  Alvarado appeared to return to form in 2025 after a down 2025, and the recent Phillies success had much to do with a reliable Alvarado in the back-end of the bullpen.  But Alvarado has let the Phillies down in a major way.

Word started to surface late Saturday night on social media - including TJ Edwards on X -  on a handful of accounts that Alvarado had tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug.  That ultimately turned out to be true, with an official announcement from the club on Sunday morning.

The Phillies announced that Alvarado had violated the joint drug agreement with a simple statement that acknowledged the suspension with "disappointment."

Speaking to reporters, Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said that the offending drug was a weight loss drug.

This is a sorry excuse for a PED suspension.  Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association have agreed to terms outlined a 137-page agreement that makes very clear what the offending substances are, and there are indeed protocol for any player who needs treatment for a health matter.

There should be no excuse as to someone "accidentally" violating the protocol.

The player and their physician have the tools to identify any potential violations, and there is room in the agreement for a player to be treated accordingly when necessary.  Failing to at very least take the steps to identify substances put into a player's body, is their responsibility.

And in doing so, Alvarado has put his team in a very difficult spot.

The Phillies might be able to successfully manage to maintain high play with their club through August, when Alvarado might be eligible to return.  But a PED suspension carries with it the extra burden of a player being ineligible for the playoffs.

That hurts, especially when the team has struggled in the bullpen.

Matt Strahm can move into the late-inning role that Alvarado held.   But then the Phillies are out with Matt Strahm.

The Phillies can make a trade deadline deal, but it will cost them some of their top prospects, which could include Mick Abel, who took the mound Sunday for the first time in a big league game.  That takes away their long-term depth.

The Phillies could move Ranger Suarez to the bullpen, where he once excelled.  But then that leaves the Phillies less deep in a starting rotation that includes the injured Aaron Nola.

There is no path forward that does not leave the Phillies better off than they were before this.

Alvarado was not around this morning to apologize to his teammates, who reportedly were stunned.  But this was a situation that was very easily avoidable, and Alvarado bears the blame.

Will the rest of the roster step up?  Will Dombrowski be able to make a trade that helps pad the blow?  That remains to be seen.  But for now, the Phillies are not as good a team as they were yesterday.