José Alvarado suspended for 80 games: What we know about the Philies pitcher’s suspension
MLB has announced that the in-form left-hander has been hit with a long-term pan, weakening Philadelphia’s slim bullpen.
The Philadelphia Philies have made a positive start to the 2025 season but are now hit with the news that José Alvarado has been given an 80-game suspension by the MLB.
The Phillies’ star pitcher failed a routine test for banned substances and will now miss the postseason if his team make it. FanSided reports that Alvarado tested positive for the banned exogenous testosterone.
Returning to spring practice the left-hander was praised for losing weight and looked to be in good shape. He credited the weight loss to a new diet and looked to be reaping the rewards early in the season, putting up a 2.70 ERA and 159 ERA+ through his first 20 games.
Phillies pitcher Jose Alvarado is receiving an 80 game suspension without pay after testing positive for Exogenous Testosterone.
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) May 18, 2025
He will be ineligible for the postseason this season if the Phillies reach playoffs. pic.twitter.com/G5TohCuO5Z
After the news was confirmed on Sunday, the Phillies released a statement: “The Phillies fully support Major League Baseball’s Joint Prevention and Treatment Program and are disappointed to hear today’s news of Jose’s violation.”
The Venezuelan spent four years with the Tampa Bay Ray before signing with Philadelphia in 2021. After two years with the team he signed a new $21.5 million deal with the Phillies, which could expire at the end of 2025. The team has a $9 million option for 2026 and looked likely to activate it after recent good showings.
The Phillies have a 27-18 record through their first 45 games of the season, behind only the New York Mets in the National League East. They are 7-3 through their last ten games but the loss of Alvarado looks set to cut into their momentum.
Philadelphia was already looking to bolster the bullpen ahead of the trade window deadline but Sunday’s news makes that doubly important. Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report has argued that “the bullpen as a whole needs at least one more high-leverage arm to lean on to make a title push.”
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