Phillies' Jose Alvarado: Inks three-year extension
Rotowire
Alvarado signed a three-year, $21.5 million contract extension Friday with a $9 million club option for 2026.
Alvarado and the Phillies avoided arbitration with a one-year, $3.45 million deal last week, but this new contract wipes that out and tacks on two, and possibly three, more years. The buyout for the option is $500,000, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post, so Alvarado is guaranteed at least $22 million. The big left-hander had been slated to hit free agency next offseason. Alvarado put up a 3.18 ERA and 81:24 K:BB over 51 innings for Philly in 2022, earning two saves along the way. He'll be in the late-inning mix for the team again in 2023.
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Phillies' Jose Alvarado: Avoids arbitration with Phillies
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Alvarado agreed to a one-year, $3.45 million contract with the Phillies on Friday to avoid arbitration.
The two sides met at the midpoint of the figures they exchanged last month, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports. Alvarado was actually optioned to the minors by the Phillies after a rough start to last season but was dominant after returning with a 1.66 ERA and 64:14 K:BB over 38 innings covering his last 42 appearances.
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Phillies' Jose Alvarado: Records save in Game 1
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Alvarado earned the save against the Padres on Tuesday, allowing zero hits and one walk in a scoreless inning during the 2-0 victory.
After getting the first out of the ninth, Alvarado found himself in trouble following a walk and an error, but he managed to shut down Manny Machado and Josh Bell to win Game 1 for the Phillies. The 27-year-old amassed only two saves in the regular season while being used mainly as a middle-relief pitcher, but he was called on in the ninth Tuesday night and got the job done. The closer role has been a revolving door for the Phillies in recent games, so look to see if Alvarado continues as a closer in the NLCS or if he reverts back to a middle-relief role.
Alvarado earned a save against Atlanta on Thursday, allowing one hit and striking out two batters over 1.1 scoreless innings.
Alvarado entered in the eighth inning with two outs and the tying run on first base. He retired Matt Olson to end the frame, then stayed in for the ninth despite the fact that No. 1 closer David Robertson was warming in the bullpen. Alvarado took advantage of the opportunity by working around a two-out single to notch his second save of the campaign. Robertson and Seranthony Dominguez have struggled in September, so it's possible that Alvarado could get some more save chances moving forward.
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Phillies' Jose Alvarado: Takes loss in relief
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Alvarado (3-2) took the loss in Saturday's game against the Cubs, allowing five runs (three earned) on two hits while striking out one and walking none over one-third of an inning.
Alvarado was called in to pitch in the 10th inning of a tied game, and he took the loss after allowing four runs to cross the plate on a fielder's choice, a single and a fielding error. His ERA ballooned from 4.39 to 5.33 in the contest, though he has a 3.86 ERA in July.
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Phillies' Jose Alvarado: Earns first save
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Alvarado recorded two outs, including one strikeout, and earned a save against Miami on Sunday.
Alvarado entered the game with two on and one out in the ninth inning and needed just eight pitches to extinguish the threat from the Marlins. It was his first save opportunity since blowing a chance against the Nationals on June 17. The 27-year-old is now sporting a 41:18 K:BB with a 4.39 ERA through 26.2 frames.
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Phillies' Jose Alvarado: Blows save but gets win
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Alvarado (1-1) blew the save but got the win in the second game of Friday's doubleheader against the Nationals, allowing an unearned run in 1.1 innings of work while striking out one and giving up two walks and a hit.
The Phillies used both Seranthony Dominguez and Brad Hand in the matinee, so they were down to the less reliable members of their bullpen in the nightcap. After Andrew Bellatti retired two of the first three batters in the ninth inning, Alvarado was tasked with retiring Juan Soto to finish the game. He wound up walking him, as he's done against 17.1 percent of the batters he's faced this season, but he appeared to have gotten the job done by getting Nelson Cruz to ground out before Didi Gregorius threw the ball away. Alvarado got out of the inning without further damage and allowed only the ghost runner to score in the bottom of the 10th, which was good enough for a win after the Phillies had scored twice in the top of the frame. As long as Dominguez and Hand remain effective, it's unlikely Alvarado will see many more save chances.
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Phillies' Jose Alvarado: Recalled by Phillies
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Alvarado was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Sunday.
Alvarado was demoted in late May after posting a 7.62 ERA and 15.4 percent walk rate to start the season, but four scoreless minor-league appearances in which he walked just a single batter was apparently all the Phillies needed to see to bring him back. Cristopher Sanchez was optioned in a corresponding move.
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Phillies' Jose Alvarado: Optioned to Triple-A
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Alvarado was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Friday.
Alvarado's control issues finally reached a tipping point for the Phillies, so he'll exit the active roster to clear space for Friday's starter Bailey Falter. Alvarado's 15.4 percent walk rate is actually a notable improvement on his 18.7 percent mark from last year, but it's still nowhere near good enough and contributed heavily to his 7.62 ERA. His stuff is good enough that he could add to his 20 career saves at some point down the line if he could just figure out his command, but it doesn't look like such an improvement is coming any time soon.
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Phillies' Jose Alvarado: Ready to go
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Alvarado (neck) will be on the Phillies' Opening Day roster, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
Alvarado has been limited to a single Grapefruit League appearance due to a neck issue. Previous reports indicated the lefty was likely to open the season on the injured list, but he's evidently convinced the Phillies that he's ready to go. The team will use a 10-man bullpen to start the year, so it can avoid using him in the first few games if he still needs time to finish building up.
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Phillies' Jose Alvarado: Making spring debut
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Alvarado (neck) is scheduled to make a relief appearance in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
Though Alvarado has been cleared for game action and likely won't require much buildup time as a reliever who typically doesn't work more than one inning, he's not a lock to make the Phillies' Opening Day roster since the neck issue has kept him out for the majority of the spring. As Gelb notes, the Phillies' plans for Alvarado will likely become apparent based on where his next outing comes Tuesday or Wednesday. If Alvarado pitches in one of the team's final two exhibition games, it would likely signal that he's on track for the Opening Day roster, whereas a simulated game Tuesday or Wednesday would hint that the Phillies are planning to stash him on the injured list to begin the season.
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Phillies' Jose Alvarado: Likely needs stay on injured list
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Alvarado (neck) has been playing catch, but the Phillies are skeptical that he'll be able to avoid the injured list to start the season, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
Alvarado's neck issue may not be a long-term problem, but the fact that he's still merely playing catch with Opening Day just 10 days away suggests a trip to the injured list is likely. Once healthy, he'll compete with Brad Hand to be the top lefty in the Philadelphia bullpen, a role that could come with at least the occasional save.
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Phillies' Jose Alvarado: Out with neck issue
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Alvarado has not made an appearance this spring due to "a little neck issue," manager Joe Girardi revealed on Saturday.
Alvarado was shut down from throwing for three days beginning Thursday as he looks to recover from the issue. The reliever hopes to be ready for the start of the season, but may be delayed if the issue lingers.
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Phillies' Jose Alvarado: Steers clear of arbitration
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Alvarado and the Phillies agreed Tuesday to a one-year, $1.9 million contract to avoid arbitration, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Along with first baseman Rhys Hoskins ($7.7 million), Alvarado was one of two of the Phillies' three arbitration-eligible players who finalized a one-year deal with the team prior to Tuesday's filing deadline. The reliever will be back with the Phillies for a second season after turning in a 4.20 ERA and 1.60 WHIP while striking out 68 batters and gathering five saves over 55.2 innings in 2021.
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Phillies' Jose Alvarado: Notches fifth save
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Alvarado gave up a hit and a walk in a scoreless ninth inning Monday to record his fifth save of the season in a 7-4 win over the Nationals. He struck out two.
Ian Kennedy had the night off after picking up his fifth save as a Phillie on Sunday, so Alvarado got the call to close out this one. The southpaw hasn't been scored upon in six straight appearances dating back to Aug. 3, and his recent stint on the IL due to shoulder inflammation didn't derail his momentum. That being said, his lack of control (career-worst 19.7 percent walk rate on the season) makes him volatile at the best of times.
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Phillies' Jose Alvarado: Returns from IL
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The Phillies reinstated Alvarado (shoulder) from the 10-day injured list Thursday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
Alvarado, who had been on the shelf since Aug. 11 with an inflamed left shoulder, was cleared to rejoin the Phillies after he checked out fine during a one-inning rehab appearance Tuesday for Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Given the brevity of his absence, the 26-year-old should quickly recapture a key late-inning role for Philadelphia.
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Phillies' Jose Alvarado: Starts up rehab assignment
Rotowire
Alvarado (shoulder) made his first rehab appearance for Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday, tossing a no-hit inning while striking out one and walking one.
Alvarado was placed on the 10-day injured list Aug. 11 with left shoulder inflammation, but he appears to be on the cusp of a return. He may need only one or two more tune-up appearances at Triple-A before rejoining the Philadelphia bullpen.
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Phillies' Jose Alvarado: Throws bullpen Friday
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Alvarado (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Friday, Daniel Guerrero of MLB.com reports.
Alvarado has been dealing with a left shoulder impingement for a week and a half, but he felt good after Friday's bullpen session. The southpaw will throw another bullpen Sunday and will be re-evaluated afterward.
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Phillies' Jose Alvarado: Lands on injured list
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Alvarado was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with a left shoulder impingement.
Alvarado hasn't pitched since delivering a scoreless frame Aug. 7, so it appears he's been dealing with the injury for a few days. It's unclear how long the left-hander is expected to be sidelined, but he'll be eligible to return from the injured list Aug. 18.
