The Phillies made a minor transaction ahead of Monday night's series opener against the Seattle Mariners, though in what could be setting up for the return of José Alvarado.

Right-handed reliever Max Lazar was optioned back to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, and fellow righty Nolan Hoffman got the call-up to the majors.

However, the 28-year-old Hoffman's stay is likely to be brief.

Alvarado is eligible to return from his 80-game PED suspension on Tuesday (Aug. 19) and has been ramping back up in Lehigh Valley for just shy of two weeks. The hard-throwing right-hander made relief appearances for the IronPigs on Friday and Sunday night.

Lazar might have been able to stay one more day, which would've allowed the Phillies to make a more direct transaction for bringing back Alvarado, but because

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