Phillies Stay or Go: Jose Alvarado
Apr 23, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Jose Alvarado (46) pitches against the New York Mets during the eighth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
It is officially the offseason for Major League Baseball.
The 2025 season was a lavish one for America’s pastime. Ratings were up, attendance rose again, and the postseason, particularly the World Series, was absolute cinema.
The only aspect that was not so splendid was the outcome of the Phillies’ season, which was filled with heartbreak and questions. A lot of those queries will be answered over the next few months, as the Phils enter a very interesting and influential offseason.
I am going to try to answer some questions for you, previewing the 11 Phillies free agents over the next 11 days, starting with Jose Alvarado.
The Phils have a couple of decisions to make when it comes to 2026 options. However, the only one truly in their control is Alvarado, who has a club option for next season. Harrison Bader has a mutual option. The Phillies will certainly pick up their side, but it is most likely that Bader will decline.
The 30-year-old Venezuelan left-handed reliever’s option is for $9 million. The Phillies could accept those terms and guarantee him a spot on the roster for next season. Alternatively, they could buy his contract out for $500,000, open him up to free agency, then try to re-sign him at a lower price.
Dave Dombrowski at the end-of-season press conference did not commit to the Phillies picking up his option, but did state, “I’d be surprised, without making any announcements, if Alvarado’s not back with us. But we’ll see what ends up happening.”
The straight-up approach of just picking up his option is easier for both parties, and that is what will likely happen. Especially, if Alvarado can return to his pre-suspension form, $9 million is a good deal.
Alvarado, before his PED suspension last season, was the Phillies’ go-to guy in the back end of the bullpen. High fire, high energy, and high results. However, following his suspension, his command vanished; he allowed three homers in six innings, which was over eight appearances, his ERA was 7.50, and he ended the year on the injured list with a strained left forearm.
This devalues his market big time, which could lead the Phillies to that second option of buying him out and restructuring.
Anyway, the ruling is:
FINAL VERDICT: STAY
Personally, I would be willing to not pick up Alvarado’s option and just let him walk because of the bad mojo he brings with his PED suspension, but it sounds like it is more of in how Alvarado will stay on this team rather than if.
With Dombrowski stating, “we’ll see what happens” about picking up Alvarado’s option, it leads me to believe they will look to buy out his contract and rework his deal to a less expensive one-year contract.
All options must be resolved by Thursday, November 6.
Benjamin Goldstein
Benjamin has been covering Philly Sports for Philly Sports Reports since 2017. He is a podcaster, writer, and founder of Philly Sports Reports. Benjamin is also an intern at the WBCB Sports Network on 1490AM. Through Philly Sports Reports, Benjamin has gotten the opportunity to meet Phillies owner John Middleton in his suite and be honored as the Philadelphia sports fan of the week for KYW News Radio. He hopes to be reporting on Philly sports as a full-time job in the future.
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