Matt Gelb
@mattgelb.bsky.social
Phillies beat writer for The Athletic. One half of Phillies Therapy podcast. Daily Orange U.
It was a forgettable 2025 season for José Alvarado, but a $9 million decision to bring him back in 2026 didn’t feel too complicated. He would have been one of the best lefty relievers on the market. Story: www.nytimes.com/athletic/676...
Why the Phillies are bringing back José Alvarado by exercising $9M club option
The decision reflects the club's confidence that Alvarado can return to form after a season interrupted by an 80-game PED suspension.
www.nytimes.com
November 5, 2025 at 11:17 PM
It was a forgettable 2025 season for José Alvarado, but a $9 million decision to bring him back in 2026 didn’t feel too complicated. He would have been one of the best lefty relievers on the market. Story: www.nytimes.com/athletic/676...
Reposted by Matt Gelb
The other thing is that while the Phillies have profited from trading prospects over the past 4 years, they have gotten a rounding error from nothing from their own minor league depth. No team has handed out fewer MLB debuts since 2023, and only one Phillies callup has been a meaningful contributor
October 15, 2025 at 5:51 PM
The other thing is that while the Phillies have profited from trading prospects over the past 4 years, they have gotten a rounding error from nothing from their own minor league depth. No team has handed out fewer MLB debuts since 2023, and only one Phillies callup has been a meaningful contributor