JOSÉ ALVARADO NEWS

Strong start to spring Alvarado has looked good to start camp, retiring all nine batters he's faced thus far while striking out three.

Impact The Phillies acquired Alvarado fairly cheaply from the Rays back in December, as he's posted a 5.08 ERA over the last two seasons while battling injuries. He's been in vintage form so far this spring, however, with his fastball touching triple digits and his conditioning looking much improved. His recent struggles mean he probably begins the year behind Archie Bradley and Hector Neris on the closer depth chart, but he could certainly add to his 15 career saves if he carries his spring success into the regular season. If the Phillies adopt a committee approach at any point this year, he should have a strong chance of picking up saves when opposing lefties are due up in the ninth inning, as both Bradley and Neris throw right-handed.

MARCH 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Improved Phillies seeking to end 9-year postseason drought

Joe Girardi held up the Philadelphia Phillies’ roster on a sheet of paper and made it clear improvements in the offseason don’t matter once players hit the field

FEBRUARY 17, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

NL East teams at the start of spring training

A team-by-team look at the National League East entering spring training, including key players each club acquired and lost, and dates of the first workout for pitchers and catcher...

FEBRUARY 11, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Phillies agree to 1-year deals with 3, including Hoskins

The Philadelphia Phillies agreed to one-year contracts with first baseman Rhys Hoskins, right-hander Vince Velasquez and left-hander Jose Alvarado on Friday to avoid salary arbitra...

JANUARY 15, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

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

Impact 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.

JANUARY 15, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Philadelphia Phillies acquire hard-throwing Jose Alvarado The Philadelphia Phillies have continued to focus on their bullpen, acquiring Jose Alvarado from the Rays as part of a three team deal. As t...

DECEMBER 29, 2020 • CALLTOTHEPEN.COM

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

Impact 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 bounceback could see Alvarado picking up saves at some point for his new team, with only the inconsistent Hector Neris standing as a real obstacle, but there's every chance his injuries and control problems continue, making him at best a low-leverage option.

DECEMBER 29, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

LEADING OFF: Dodgers hope Kershaw can go in NLCS Game 4

Clayton Kershaw could pitch Game 4 of the NL Championship Series for the Dodgers if the left-hander’s back continues to improve

OCTOBER 15, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

LEADING OFF: Dodgers hope Kershaw can go in NLCS Game 4

Clayton Kershaw could start Game 4 of the NL Championship Series for the Dodgers if the left-hander’s back continues to improve

OCTOBER 15, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

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

Impact The injury certainly could have contributed to Alvarado's awful outing Saturday against the Blue Jays, in which 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.

AUGUST 15, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Used in setup role Monday 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 ove...

Impact 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.

AUGUST 11, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

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

Impact 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).

AUGUST 7, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

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

Impact 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.

AUGUST 7, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Starts season off sharp 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 sco...

Impact 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.

JULY 27, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

AL East Preview Capsules

JULY 17, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Improves from last sim game 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 Ke...

Impact 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 of Brandon Lowe after putting on Nate Lowe and Manuel Margot via a walk and a single, respectively. 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.

JULY 13, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Ready for big season Alvarado, who struggled to a career-worst 4.80 ERA and 1.87 WHIP in 2019, feels highly confident he'll have a bounce-back year in 2020, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports. "When he's...

Impact The hard-throwing southpaw was the picture of dominance in 2018 with a 2.39 ERA and 80 strikeouts across 64 innings, but a family matter in Venezuela last season led to a month-plus absence and essentially derailed Alvarado's campaign. However, the 25-year-old worked out diligently nearly every day during the recent shutdown, and he blew Cash away with his live batting practice session Saturday. Alvarado threw 15 pitches while facing Brandon Lowe and Willy Adames, and he reportedly landed all but one offering in the strike zone according to Cash.

JULY 5, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Gets long toss in Alvarado got some long toss in at Tropicana Field on Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact The Rays had a large contingent of pitchers in for small-group informal workouts Monday, with Alvarado joining several bullpen mates in long-toss sessions. With the 2020 season finally appearing to take shape late Monday night, Alvarado can now begin ramping up in earnest during what is likely to be considered a second spring training over the next three-plus weeks or so.

JUNE 23, 2020 • ROTOWIRE