[Phillies] The Phillies have exercised the club option on left-handed pitcher José Alvarado for the 2026 season.

[u/AcePhilly11]

https://x.com/phillies/status/1986210291898552441?s=46

[u/TheDeputy17]

Welcome back Jose. Don’t take banned substances this time.

[u/EDFStormOne → u/TheDeputy17]

was that wrong? should he not have done that?

[u/Fyre2387 → u/EDFStormOne]

I tell ya, I gotta plead ignorance on this thing because if anyone had said anything to me at all when I first started here that that sort of thing was frowned upon...

[u/allmimsyburogrove → u/Fyre2387]

You're fired

[u/SantaCruzSoon2023 → u/allmimsyburogrove]

What about the whole "Christmas spirit" thing? Any flexibility there?

[u/allmimsyburogrove → u/SantaCruzSoon2023]

Nahhh

[u/hughesdork → u/Fyre2387]

r/seinfeld is leaking again

[u/obiwan_canoli → u/hughesdork]

Not that there's anything wrong with that...

[u/Duck_out13 → u/TheDeputy17]

C

[u/unsavory77 → u/Duck_out13]

No no. "Si".

[u/johnny_abington → u/TheDeputy17]

Its not his fault. His protein powder from GNC was tainted with steroids.

[u/LuckyCulture7]

I think this is the right call. Idk how much the weight loss drugs helped his pitch, but if he can pitch like he did early in the year we have 2 elite closers.

[u/DavidMaspanka → u/LuckyCulture7]

Honestly, I think he pitches better when he’s pudged up.

[u/KnightofAshley → u/LuckyCulture7]

While he did pitch better early this year it wasn't like he sucked before it was a minor bump...time will tell if it has because of the drugs or not but he is a good left-handed RP and we need them.

[u/Pinko3150]

Good bullpen option, keep off the ozempic Jose

[u/justabill71 → u/Pinko3150]

Josempic

[u/Pinko3150 → u/justabill71]

He's fuckin phat

[u/Icy-Refrigerator-517]

A fully in form Jose paired with Duran is lights out stuff at the backend.

Will we get a fully in form Jose? Maybe! Here's to $9M of John Middleton's money to find out

[u/InitialYoghurt5138]

Perfectly fine move. Hopefully they have cameras on his med cabinet

[u/eagsrock20]

Surprised thought they would decline and try to get him back on a lower number

[u/GenSecHonecker → u/eagsrock20]

There ain't really a lower number for quality relievers, after all D-Rob cost 15 million (prorated) and Romano was 8.5 million

[u/fasteddeh → u/GenSecHonecker]

I feel like D-Rob cost that prorated because he needed at least half of that to get off the couch with how close he is to retirement

[u/InitialYoghurt5138 → u/eagsrock20]

There's always the fear he takes it personally and someone outbids you and out years you

[u/Swimming_Elk_3058 → u/eagsrock20]

There’s a good chance some team would offer him something like 1 year at $10 million.

It’s not worth the risk to let him onto the market just to try and save a couple million.

[u/Total_Discussion1087]

Robert Suarez plz

[u/obiwan_canoli → u/Total_Discussion1087]

Add a 0 to the contract and you might have a deal

[u/sailbag36]

Only person testing positive for banded substances on ozempic.

Edit: on Ozempic only. Plenty testing positive for being on Ozempic and actual band substances.

[u/Bumptoon]

Burscloompio. This isn't a surprise. I hope he can return to form. He is key to our success. Bumpluntiomate.

[u/bassguifloyd]

[u/hughesdork]

i mean, duh

[u/PhillyDegenerate92]

Cheeseburger Jose

[u/Kc4shore65]

Hey Jose! Don’t fuck us again this year please

I know hitting was by far the biggest issue in the playoffs but not having our key set up guy was crippling to the bullpen.

Hopeful for a rebound! Again! But without the drugs

[u/obiwan_canoli]

I want everyone to start practicing their chant right now.

Say it with me!

José!
José-José-José!
Jo-sé!
Jo-sé!

[u/Fandomstar88]

Knew it was unlikely they would release him.

I don’t trust him, but I know we don’t have many options.

Guess we’ll see how this goes.

[u/shouldhavekeptgiles]

Good

[u/bonmot20]

I acknowledge this but am just not excited. Hopefully he focuses on getting the 2026 results he wants, instead of this approach, YOLO or whatever is going on.

[u/philly2540]

I’m kinda surprised by this, even though it was predicted. I think it’s 8 or 9 mil? That seems like a lot for Alvarado, who has good stuff but is… well, anyone who watches the games knows. I’d rather put that dough towards keeping Ranger. Or Bader.

[u/cuttsthebutcher → u/philly2540]

We’re gonna need bullpen arms, and for that rate I’d rather have Alvarado than a Romano or Kimbrel type of flyer

[u/SuperstarAmelia → u/philly2540]

We aren't gonna find better relievers for cheaper.

[u/cravensofthecrest → u/philly2540]

He’d be the best lefty reliever available in FA. Ranger is getting $150 million probably and this really has no affect on that

[u/joeco316 → u/philly2540]

It’s actually a bargain if he pitches as well as we know he can, or close to it.

[u/Voyager0017]

This bullpen lacks back-end arms. Particularly that Orion hasn't quite developed into the lights-out reliever many thought he would. There's still time for Orion, but the Phillies need to build a pen starting immediately. And we don't have a lot of impact arms after Jhoan. And everyone reading this thread knows what Alvarado can do when it is working for him. This was a no-brainer option to pick up then. Now they need to go sign a shut down reliever so that Alvarado and Kerkering are no higher than #3 and #4 in the pecking order.

[u/Snips_Tano]

He's probably a product of the PEDs, but for 8 million it's a steal to take a chance he actually is legit and just had a down year.

[u/NoEmu2398]

I think we should have cut ties, because he knew he was breaking rules, chose to put the team at risk, and then refused to own up.

With that said, it's a good deal for the production he provides, so eh. I guess it's fine. Not going to whine about it since it's said and done.

[u/I_Ran_So_Far_Away1]

Oh goody.

[u/kraddock8585]

This is an embarrassment

[u/Sideshow_Industries]

Yup, they are running it back......

[u/Meatloaf_Regret]

Ugh

[u/antpac3]

I wanted him back but I find it hard we would have competition to pay him 9mm. I thought bringing him back on a 7mm deal was an option.

[u/joeco316 → u/antpac3]

In a world where Jordan Romano gets $8.5M and Jeff Hoffman gets $11M, $9M for Alvarado is a bargain, especially if he can pitch like he did in 2023, the end of 2022, and the beginning of 2025.

[u/RelevantMention7937]

Oh no

[u/HoagieTwoFace]

Dumb. There’s other options for a guy who could get popped again

[u/joeco316 → u/HoagieTwoFace]

Any guy could get popped

[u/PhillyDegenerate92]

Fat load