How the Phillies will navigate a bullpen without José Alvarado — in the short and long term

New York Times

20-05-2025

DENVER — On the second day without their most-trusted reliever, the Phillies' bullpen door opened for a man who had not pitched in eight days. Joe Ross tossed a scoreless seventh inning on 14 pitches. Next came a late-spring waiver claim sporting a 6.35 ERA, who was asked to protect a three-run lead in the eighth. Carlos Hernández fired 13 pitches in a 1-2-3 frame. Then, with the game blown open, Tanner Banks prevented drama with a 14-pitch ninth.
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Greater challenges than the worst-in-baseball Colorado Rockies await. But the Phillies ended Monday alone in first place in the National League East for the first time since April 9. And in the two games since the Phillies learned that José Alvarado was suspended 80 games for a banned substance, six different Phillies relievers have combined for six scoreless innings.
It can't hurt the group's confidence.
'The biggest thing is that they're all going to come together even more,' said Kyle Schwarber, who crushed his 300th homer in a 9-3 Phillies win. 'They really want to find a way to be the best versions of themselves. Obviously, it was a really big loss for us. They know that, too. The more that they are going to be able to come together and keep doing what they are doing out there, it's going to be huge for us.'
How the Phillies handle the loss of Alvarado now will be different than how they confront it in July and perhaps October. There are layered challenges. Alvarado can return Aug. 18, but if the Phillies qualify for the postseason, he is ineligible.
'It's probably easier to deal with during the postseason because you have starters that can become relievers during that time period,' Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said. 'And we also have the trading deadline in time. So, it's not good. It's not the news you want to hear by any means. But I want to keep it in perspective.'
The next two months, as the Phillies try to survive until trades become more realistic in mid-to-late July, might be the toughest task. The Phillies have internal levers they can pull — moving a starter to the bullpen or converting prospects into relievers — but they will not yet pursue those options.
The temporary solutions might have to be creative. That means more bullpen churn in the immediate future.
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The Phillies entered Monday having used 10 different relievers, which was tied with the San Francisco Giants for the fewest in the majors this season. Three teams — the Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Angels — had used 19 different relievers.
Phillies manager Rob Thomson will face tougher decisions on a night-to-night basis. He said he will not adjust how he treats his late-inning relievers.
'The number one goal is to find another guy or two that can go into leverage,' Thomson said. 'Managing the leverage guys is pretty easy because I have certain rules and I stick with them and I'm not going to move away from that because it's all about keeping them healthy.'
So, that means chances for Hernández, whom the Phillies have continued to carry despite inconsistent results. He looked sharp Monday night. 'Obviously I'm happy the manager presents me with those kind of opportunities,' Hernández said through a team interpreter. 'But the best thing about it is I got to do the job right.' José Ruiz, back from the injured list, will have important chances. So will Banks.
Later this summer, the Phillies can tweak the mix. The potential rotation shuffles are contingent on Aaron Nola looking like the Phillies expect Aaron Nola to look. He still has some soreness in his right ankle, Thomson said. Nola, who last week was placed on the 15-day IL retroactive to May 15, is limited to playing catch. The Phillies expect him to throw from a mound before this road trip ends.
They anticipate Andrew Painter factoring into their rotation plans sometime around July. Provided the rest of the rotation stays healthy, it would open the door to the Phillies moving Ranger Suárez to the bullpen. Suárez has been successful as a multi-inning fireman in the past. But rotations often do not stay healthy, so banking on Suárez as the eventual bullpen upgrade is risky.
The Phillies were thrilled with Mick Abel's cameo; he tied a 78-year-old franchise record for strikeouts in his big-league debut Sunday. The club stuck to its plan and demoted Abel to the minors Monday. He will continue to start at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Abel has improved his stock. The Phillies, at some point, will have to evaluate whether Abel, 23, is more valuable to them as a trade chip or through some role in the majors.
There are no plans to make Abel a reliever, although the team has discussed the idea in broad terms. Abel has momentum. There is no reason to disrupt it. He'd also fetch more in a potential trade as a starter.
The Phillies would have converted Moisés Chace, a right-handed starting prospect, to a reliever by now if possible. But Chace did not come to camp in pitching shape, threw with diminished velocity at Double-A Reading, then suffered an elbow injury last week that necessitated Tommy John surgery. Other pitching prospects such as Jean Cabrera and Alex McFarlane might project as future relievers, but the Phillies will keep them as starters. They are not viewed as 2025 contributors.
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Even if the Phillies unearthed a young reliever they trusted in tight spots, they'd probably still be shopping for more before the July 31 trade deadline.
MLB.com reported the Phillies 'reached out' to 40-year-old David Robertson about a reunion, but 'no serious talks took place.' The Phillies have pursued various minor-league deals with other relievers and could have one in place this week.
The potential July trade market for relievers is hazy. So much will change between now and then; a team or two could fall out of contention and be more willing to deal. One club's bullpen to watch in the coming months is Tampa Bay's. There will be pressure on Dombrowski to again surrender prospects at the deadline to fortify his bullpen.
But the Phillies will have to solve current problems in the coming weeks likely without the benefit of an external acquisition. They did not learn of Alvarado's intent to not appeal and accept the suspension until Sunday morning. It forced the club to scramble. Ruiz was activated Sunday, instead of Monday as planned. Righty reliever Max Lazar rode the bus back Sunday evening from Syracuse, N.Y., with Triple-A Lehigh Valley, packed a bag, and drove to South Philadelphia. He flew to Denver on Monday morning to join the Phillies' bullpen for the first time this season.
The team has bullpen spots it can use as a revolving door. Two righties at Triple A, Seth Johnson and Guillo Zuñiga, throw hard but lack control. They could emerge as options. Being creative could mean more waiver claims, or more aggressive roster management by auditioning different relievers.
Thomson, as is his style, has preached steadiness. His relievers have responded in kind.
'Just do your thing and try not to do more than who you are,' Thomson said. 'We have enough stuff in our pen. We do. Just don't try to do too much. Throw strikes. Just be yourselves. And we'll get it done.'
(Top photo of José Alvarado: Dale Zanine / Imagn Images)