José Alvarado expected to be back with Phillies in 2026: ‘I love his stuff’

PHILADELPHIA – José Alvarado is expected to be back with the Phillies in 2026. 

The left-hander has a 2026 club option worth $9 million with a $500,000 buyout. The Phillies have until five days after the conclusion of the World Series to pick it up. He could return on either the club option or a restructured deal. 

“I’d be surprised, without making any announcements, that Alvarado’s not back with us,” Dombrowski said on Thursday at the team’s end-of-season press conference at Citizens Bank Park. “But we’ll see what ends up happening.” 

Alvarado, 30, ended the season on the injured list with left forearm tightness. Dombrowski said that Alvarado’s health is “fine” and that he “already received the medical attention that he needs to have in preparation for next year.” 

The Phillies essentially committing to an Alvarado return isn’t surprising considering how the team spoke about him following the announcement that he was going to miss the rest of the regular season with an injury. “Our plan now is just get him ready for next year,” manager Rob Thomson said on Sept. 12.

“Tough year, it really was for him in a lot of different ways,” Thomson said on Thursday. “I think making sure that he’s healthy going into the offseason kind of eased his mind, eased my mind.”

Alvarado on May 18 was suspended 80 games and deemed ineligible for the postseason after testing positive for a banned substance. After posting a 2.70 ERA in 20 games before the suspension, Alvarado did not have the same command following a three-month layoff. 

2026 would be Alvarado’s sixth season with the Phillies. He was Dombrowski’s first acquisition via trade back in 2021, when the Rays dealt him to the Phillies as part of a three-team deal between Tampa Bay, Philadelphia and the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

At times, Alvarado has looked like one of the better left-handed relievers in the sport. Sent to Triple-A for a reset in 2022, Alvarado finished the year with a 1.66 ERA over his last 42 regular season games. He followed up with a 1.74 ERA in 42 games in 2023. His only earned run allowed in the postseason that year came in Game 7 of the 2023 NLCS. 

For at least one more year, the Phillies will ride the highs and lows with Alvarado. 

“I’m bullish on the club, I’m really bullish on Alvarado too,” Thomson said. “I love him, I love his energy, I love his stuff. I think he’s, wherever he’s at, he’s going to have a really good year next year.”