Jose Alvarado RP

Alvarado avoided arbitration by signing a one-year, $1 million contract Friday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

The Phillies will be hoping Alvarado can plug a hole in their historically leaky bullpen this season. He's been a high-leverage reliever at times in the past, but he's since struggled through a pair of injury-filled campaigns, posting a 5.08 ERA and a 17.3 percent walk rate over that stretch.

Alvarado was traded from the Rays to the Phillies on Tuesday as part of a three-team deal with the Dodgers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The 25-year-old lefty joins a team desperately in need of bullpen help, and the good version of Alvarado can certainly provide that, as his 2.39 ERA back in 2018 suggests. Over the last two injury-filled seasons, however, he's struggled to a 5.08 ERA in just 39 total frames, with a poor 17.3 percent walk rate offsetting a 27.2 percent strikeout rate. A full bounce-back could see Alvarado picking up saves at some point for his new team, with the inconsistent Hector Neris standing as the only real obstacle on the roster at the moment.

Alvarado will not be a part of the Rays' World Series roster, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Alvarado returned from a shoulder injury to play a part in the ALCS, striking out four and walking three over 1.2 scoreless innings. Ryan Sherriff will replace him as a left-handed option out of the bullpen.

The Rays activated Alvarado (shoulder) from the 45-day injured list Sunday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Tampa Bay designated Oliver Drake (elbow) for assignment to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Alvarado, while outfielder Brett Phillips was optioned to the Rays' taxi squad to clear a spot on the 28-man active roster. Alvarado hasn't appeared in game for the Rays since Aug. 14 due to the shoulder injury, so manager Kevin Cash could prefer to break the 25-year-old in in lower-leverage spots during Tampa Bay's ALCS matchup with the Astros.

Alvarado (shoulder) will not be a part of the Rays' wild-card roster.

Alvarado has been out with a shoulder injury since mid-August. He's been trending in the right direction lately, throwing live batting practice multiple times, but he's evidently at least three more days away from being cleared for game action.

Alvarado (shoulder) is scheduled to throw to Ji-Man Choi (hamstring) and Yandy Diaz (hamstring) in a simulated game setting Monday, the Associated Press reports.

The left-hander did the same Saturday and reportedly looked very good in terms of velocity as he continues to ramp up for a possible return early in the postseason. Alvarado's chances of suiting up at some point in the upcoming Wild Card Series against the Blue Jays will likely become clearer after Monday's activity.

Alvarado (shoulder) threw a live batting practice Saturday and remains a candidate to return at some point in the postseason, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

The left-hander's availability will naturally be heavily dependent on the health of his shoulder, but it will also be contingent on his ability to locate consistently and command the zone. Alvarado hasn't seen game action since Aug. 14, so rust will certainly be a concern if he is eventually activated. "Velo was up right where we like it. I think he was at 96-97 [mph]," manager Kevin Cash said. "Landed a couple of breaking balls. He's another one to make a decision on. Just get his comfort from a health standpoint. He certainly appears like he's healthy."

Alvarado (shoulder) is scheduled to throw a live batting practice session Saturday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Alvarado doesn't look like he'll be activated from the 45-day injured list prior to Sunday's regular-season finale versus the Phillies, but he could be a candidate to earn a spot on Tampa Bay's postseason roster. The lefty hasn't pitched for the big club since Aug. 14, but before imploding in that appearance and subsequently landing on the IL with shoulder inflammation, Alvarado posted a 2.16 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and an 11:4 K:BB over 8.1 innings in his first eight appearances of 2020.

Alvarado (shoulder) threw a 26-pitch bullpen session Monday and will throw a simulated game Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Alvarado remains on the 45-day injured list with left shoulder inflammation and won't be eligible to return before the start of the playoffs. It appears that he has a chance to do that, though the Rays won't be sure until they see how his shoulder holds up this week.

Alvarado (shoulder) threw again at Tropicana Field on Monday and could face live hitters sometime this week after manager Kevin Cash described the southpaw as "making really good progress", Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

The big left-hander will first likely utilize at least one bullpen session as a bridge to facing some of his teammates, but the fact he's set to possibly take multiple steps forward in his recovery in coming days is certainly noteworthy. If he continues without setbacks, Alvarado could be a factor for the Rays in a potential postseason run.

Alvarado (shoulder) was playing catch at Tropicana Field on Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The 25-year-old was shut down from throwing Aug. 19, but he's returned been cleared to resume playing catch. Alvarado was shifted to the 45-day injured list in early September and won't be able to return before the end of the regular season, but he could rejoin the team for a potential playoff run.

Alvarado (shoulder) was transferred to the 45-day injured list Friday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

The move ends Alvarado's regular season, as his 45 days will expire just after the end of the campaign, though he could still pitch in the playoffs. The lefty joins teammates Yonny Chirinos (elbow), Chaz Roe (elbow), Jalen Beeks (elbow), Andrew Kittredge (elbow) and Chaz Roe (elbow) on the 45-day injured list, though the Rays did get Nick Anderson back from his forearm injury Friday.

Alvarado (shoulder) saw a doctor in New York on Monday and will be shut down from throwing for 10-to-14 days, the Associated Press reports.

The burly southpaw was placed on the injured list Saturday with shoulder inflammation, and it appears he's headed for a much longer stay on it than the minimum 10 days. Alvarado looked out of sorts while trying to apparently pitch through the injury in his appearance Saturday, when he allowed four earned runs over two-third of an inning to the Blue Jays.

Alvarado hit the 10-day injured list with left shoulder inflammation Saturday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

The injury certainly could have contributed to Alvarado's performance Saturday, when he allowed four runs while recording just two outs. It's unclear how much time he's expected to miss. Aaron Slegers was recalled in a corresponding move.

Alvarado (personal), who was activated from the paternity list earlier in the day, was credited with a hold in a win over the Red Sox on Monday. He allowed one hit and one walk over a scoreless two-thirds of an inning.

The hard-throwing left-hander inherited a two-on, two-out situation in the eighth inning and initially made the situation thornier by issuing a walk to Christian Vazquez and yielding a two-run single to Jonathan Arauz. However, Alvarado then avoided further damage by inducing a fielder's choice groundout from Kevin Pillar and preserving the Rays' 8-7 lead in the process. Alvarado recorded a strikeout to open the ninth as well before yielding to Andrew Kittredge for the save, and despite the somewhat rocky outing, he managed to lower his ERA to 2.84 since the pair of runs he allowed were charged to Peter Fairbanks. Alvarado has thus far made good overall on his pledge to bounce back from last season's inconsistency, but he's notably yet to log a save opportunity.

The Rays reinstated Alvarado (personal) from the paternity list Monday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Tampa Bay cleared a spot for Alvarado on the 28-man active roster by placing starting pitcher Charlie Morton (shoulder) on the 10-day injured list. Since Alvarado was only away from the Rays for the weekend series with the Yankees, he shouldn't need any time to ramp back up. He made six appearances out of the bullpen before heading to the paternity list, giving up two earned runs and striking out nine in 5.2 innings.

Alvarado (paternity) could return to the Rays as soon as Saturday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Alvarado was placed on the paternity list Friday but is evidently in line for quite a short absence. He's made six appearances for the Rays this season, striking out nine and walking three over 5.2 innings while allowing three runs (two earned).

Alvarado was placed on the paternity list Friday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Alvarado has allowed two runs on five hits with a 9:3 K:BB over 5.2 innings this season, but he'll step away from the team for the birth of his child. The 25-year-old will rejoin the club shortly after spending some time with his family.

Alvarado, who fired a scoreless ninth frame during which he recorded two strikeouts in an extra-inning win over the Blue Jays on Sunday, has opened the season with back-to-back scoreless appearances.

There was a fair amount of scrutiny on Alvarado heading into the campaign, as the left-hander was coming off a wildly inconsistent 2019 in which he often struggled with control. Despite some unsightly numbers in spring training this year, Alvarado had steadfastly maintained he was primed for a big 2020, and early returns have certainly been encouraging. The 25-year-old has yet to see a save chance, but he's now retired six batters on a relatively efficient 35 pitches while posting a 4:1 K:BB across his first pair of outings.

Alvarado, who struggled some with control in a simulated game Friday, was more effective during a Sunday appearance, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports. "Better," said Rays manager Kevin Cash. "His last outing that he had he was fine, but he just wasn't filling up the strike zone like he's capable of. We put in an emphasis to fill it up, fill up the zone with the fastball, because as soon as he does that, then those 55-foot breaking balls [come] -- which catchers can't stand but hitters swing at. So you don't tell him not to throw those."

Alvarado has been talking up his readiness and enthusiasm for the coming season since back in training camp, but the on-field results haven't always been commensurate to his ebullient mindset. Sunday, the left-hander, who sets up as a key late-inning component of the bullpen, managed to wiggle his way out of some minor trouble in his one inning by recording a strikeout. Alvarado also mentioned to Cash he'd picked some things up with his mechanics during the outing that he plans to tweak, and both the Rays skipper and pitching coach Kyle Snyder remain encouraged with where the burly southpaw is "from a strike-throwing ability" at this point.