Overview
- Philadelphia exercised the club option to retain the left-handed reliever for 2026, a $9 million cost reported by Spotrac and announced by Dave Dombrowski.
- Alvarado served an 80-game suspension in 2025 for a positive PED test, which Dombrowski linked to a weight-loss drug, and he issued an apology before returning.
- He came back on Aug. 20 but a left forearm strain in September ended his season and he was ineligible for the postseason.
- In 28 appearances he posted a 3.81 ERA with 32 strikeouts, converted seven of eight save chances, and delivered scoreless outings in 20 games.
- With Jhoan Duran set as closer, Alvarado projects to a setup role, and The Athletic reports the club could shop Matt Strahm as it retools a bullpen that ranked 28th in whiff rate.