The Phillies on Wednesday announced that they picked up left-handed reliever José Alvarado's $9 million option for 2026. At his last press conference, Phillies President Dave Dombrowski said the team was likely to bring Alvarado back.

While it makes sense given Alvarado's success with the team, the move also invites some skepticism.

Although Alvarado is a fan favorite and very popular in the clubhouse, the Venezuelan southpaw's inconsistency has also symbolized the team's regression from 2022 World Series runner-ups to being bounced in the National League Division Series in each of the past two seasons.

In 2025, Alvarado really let the Phillies down. He was suspended for 80 games and the postseason for a violation of MLB's performance-enhancing drug policy, and even when h

See Full Page