What a difference a week makes. On Mother's Day, Phillies reliever Jose Alvarado made headlines because of the cute message he wrote to his Mom on his cap. A week later, he is in the news because he violated MLB's PED policy. He is suspended for 80 games, and more importantly, the post season. It is a huge blow for a team with glaring issues in the bullpen, and World Series aspirations.
According to multiple reports, Alvarado took a weight loss supplement with an ingredient that tested positive. He told the team he didn't do it knowingly. The team believes him. I do too. But that being said, players know they have to run anything they put in their body by the training staff. If there is any doubt about a particular supplement, they need to check it before they use it. So while I don't think Alvarado is guilty of being sneaky, I do think he is guilty of being stupid. The team was depending on him to be its closer. Many of us, myself included, can relate to wanting to lose weight. But not many of us can relate to having a job that pays us 9 million dollars per year. I think I can speak for most of you when I say, we would have checked to make sure what we were taking was Kosher.
The Phils issued a statement saying, "The Phillies fully support Major League Baseball's Joint Prevention and Treatment Program and are disappointed to hear today's news of Jose's violation."
But one has to ask the question...how much responsibility do the Phillies share in this? I heard Mike Missanelli on 97.5 The Fanatic make the point, that the Phillies knew Alvarado wanted to lose weight. They should have been on him to make sure what he was doing and what he was taking was MLB compliant. But as his co-host, Bill Collarulo pointed out, if the Phillies asked what Alvarado was taking, how do we know he would have been honest about it? Both good points.
So now we have two questions. What do the Phillies do to fill the Closer role in the pen? And...do they pick up Alvarado's 9 million dollar option for 2026. The immediate response to that second question is probably no. Not that 9 mil is a lot in sports terms, but what's that old expression? Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Then again, the Eagles Lane Johnson was suspended TWICE for PED use, and all was forgiven. Winning Super Bowls will do that, I guess.
As for what to do about the pen...I worry that now Phils President Dave Dombrowski will have to give up a prospect that he ordinarily would not have, to get another bullpen arm. I've always thought Matt Strahm had Closer stuff, but he has struggled this season. Taiwan Walker has looked much better since going to the bullpen, so maybe he becomes a much more important puzzle piece to this season. He's back in the rotation for now, with Aaron Nola on the IL. Jordan Romano, as bad as he was early on, has thrown the ball very well lately.
If I am Dombrowski, I would have kept Mick Abel on the Big League roster and sent Ranger Suarez to the bullpen. The Phils have an abundance of starters, but not nearly enough quality relievers. They need another lefthander in the pen, and Ranger has been there before. The trade deadline is still months away, and any quality closer from a non-contending team will cost the Phillies valuable prospects.
I have heard the word "selfish" being thrown around a lot the past couple days. "Jose Alvarado is selfish"...because he took a huge risk, and now he may have ruined the season. I honestly don't know if it's selfishness, stupidity, or a combination of both. But whatever caused this, the Phils have to get through the next 80 games...and Red October, without Alvarado. Others now need to step up. We'll see who does, and if this situation will be a road block...or just a speed bump.