Latest news with #DaveDombrowski
CBS News
6 days ago
- Sport
- CBS News
Jose Alvarado apologizes to Phillies, fans as he nears return from 80-game PED suspension
José Alvarado apologized to the Philadelphia Phillies and their fans Tuesday as the hard-throwing lefty reliever is nearing his return from an 80-game suspension for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance. In an Instagram post, Alvarado wrote he never intended to take a prohibited substance and is "fully aware that using prohibited substances is wrong." "I made a mistake and therefore, I have faced the consequences set forth by MLB," Alvarado wrote. "Going forward, my focus is on working hard to help the team win." Alvarado was suspended for 80 games on May 18 after he tested positive for exogenous testosterone, a banned substance. Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said the positive test was caused by a weight loss drug Alvarado took in the offseason. Alvarado accepted the suspension. "It's not something he did knowingly," Dombrowski said in May. "I believe that, the way he talked to me." The suspension makes Alvarado ineligible for the postseason. He's eligible to return to the Phillies on Aug. 19, when the club hosts the Seattle Mariners. MLB rules allow him to go on a minor-league rehab assignment before his return. He returned to Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday for the first time since his suspension. "There is always a lesson to be learned in every mistake," he wrote Tuesday on social media. The bullpen Alvarado returns to isn't the one he last pitched in when he was the Phils' best high-leverage reliever. At the time of his suspension, the 30-year-old had a 2.70 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 20 innings. His sinker averaged 99.3 mph in 20 games, up from 97.8 mph last season. The Phillies acquired Jhoan Duran from the Minnesota Twins before last week's MLB trade deadline, meaning the club now has a set closer. When Alvarado returns, he'll join a remodeled Phillies bullpen with Duran as the closer and veteran David Robertson in the mix. Robertson signed with the team last month and is eligible to return Tuesday, but will need more time in Triple-A. Orion Kerkering and Matt Strahm are now the Phillies' primary setup relievers. "What it does is it moves everybody up an inning, that's all," Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Monday. "You still have Kerkering and Strahm as your two main setup guys and then you have a combination of [Max] Lazar and [Tanner] Banks and [Jordan] Romano and those guys in front of them. It just makes the bullpen a little lengthier. It gives us more depth." No one knows what to expect from Alvarado when he returns, but if he's close to his old self, the Phils will have another high-leverage arm they can use down the stretch. The Phils are seeking to make their fourth straight postseason appearance and are currently 1 1/2 games ahead of the New York Mets in the NL East race. "It's been a long 80 days without him. Not only is he talented, but he brings so much energy to the field and the clubhouse. It's just really good to have him around," Thomson said. "I think he helps, but I think they've done pretty well without him, to tell you the truth. We've won a lot of games without him, but he's certainly going to bring more energy and he's going to bring another really, really good arm." Here's Alvarado's full statement posted Tuesday: "May 18th was a very difficult day for me. That day, MLB announced the positive result of a doping test conducted in March 2025. "I am fully aware that using prohibited substances is wrong and I would never intend to do so because I have always had great respect for the game, my organization, my teammates and the fans, all of whom I want to offer my sincere apologies. "I made a mistake and therefore, I have faced the consequences set forth by MLB. "Going forward, my focus is on working hard to help the team win. "Once again, I offer my deepest apologies to the Phillies organization, my teammates, my family, my country Venezuela, the City of Philadelphia and the fans who have always supported me, especially the children and young people. "There is always a lesson to be learned in every mistake. "I thank God for giving me the strength to overcome this situation. I am glad to be back and ready to support the team."
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
What Phillies are seeking next after Jhoan Duran trade
The post What Phillies are seeking next after Jhoan Duran trade appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Philadelphia Phillies acquired Jhoan Duran from the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday in a trade that will strengthen their bullpen. The Phillies' Duran acquisition projects to be impactful, but Philadelphia is planning to make more moves. However, the Phillies are content with their current bullpen. 'Dave Dombrowski said the Phillies are done with bullpen additions. They will continue to seek a possible outfield reinforcement before Thursday's deadline,' Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports. Philadelphia seeking another bat or two. It seems as if the Phillies are focusing on the outfield. Although players such as Luis Robert Jr. and Cedric Mullins have been mentioned as possible candidates, the Phillies may not pursue a star. The 'reinforcement' term suggests Philadelphia could look to add depth in the outfield. With that said, the Phillies would likely be open to adding a star if a quality offer were to present itself. Whether it is a star or a depth option, Philadelphia will attempt to give its outfield a boost. The Phillies and Mets are competing for the National League East title. The teams have gone back and forth throughout the '25 campaign. Both ball clubs have been active ahead of the trade deadline. Additionally, both teams may continue to add impactful players. It would not be surprising to see the NL East end up getting decided by just a game or two. The Phillies and Mets both feature talented teams with high ceilings. It's difficult to predict which team will take the step forward and win the division. Adding outfield depth would help Philadelphia's chances. Max Kepler has struggled while Brandon Marsh has endured ups and downs. Nick Castellanos is playing fairly well, but the outfield would still benefit from another option or two. The MLB trade deadline is officially scheduled for 6 PM EST on July 31. Related: Dave Dombrowski trade deadline declaration will have Phillies fans hyped Related: White Sox's Andrew Benintendi robs Bryce Harper of 3-run homer
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dave Dombrowski trade deadline declaration will have Phillies fans hyped
The post Dave Dombrowski trade deadline declaration will have Phillies fans hyped appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Philadelphia Phillies have been one of the winningest teams in MLB for the past four seasons, but they haven't quite gotten over the hump yet. However, the Phillies, like in every season, believe that 2025 is their year. They are certainly going for a World Series title, as evidenced by their blockbuster trade for one of the best relievers in baseball, Jhoan Duran. While the Phillies had to trade away two of their top-five prospects in the deal, catcher Eduardo Tait and starting pitcher Mick Abel, they are getting one of the most explosive, hard-throwing relievers in MLB history. Duran touches 100 on the regular, and on the season, he has a 2.01 ERA and 16 saves — fortifying Philadelphia's late-game relief situation and giving them their closer for the foreseeable future. But it doesn't seem as though the Phillies are done making moves. According to president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski (via Alex Coll of 94WIP), the Phillies are not yet done making moves, particularly when it comes to adding a hitter to their roster. Indeed, the Phillies' lineup could use a bit of juice. According to the wRC+ stat, the Phillies only have five players producing above the league average in runs. Meanwhile, a few of their key players, such as JT Realmuto and Alec Bohm have a wRC+ below 100, while the likes of Max Kepler and Bryson Stott have not been very good at the plate. In the outfield is where the Phillies need the most help. Brandon Marsh has been hitting better as of late, but Kepler and Johan Rojas are better suited as bench pieces instead of everyday players. It shouldn't come as a shock if the Phillies pull off another trade, this time for a hard-hitting outfielder to help shore up this area of need. Phillies lose two out of three against the White Sox Perhaps this latest series will be a wake-up call for the Phillies. While the Chicago White Sox aren't as bad as they were last year, they are still one of the worst teams in MLB. For the Phillies to lose two out of three against them should prompt some soul-searching and instill a greater sense of urgency in the team's front office. At the end of the day, the Phillies will be needing their everyday players to regress positively to the mean, unless they pull off a bonkers trade for one of the best bats that could be available on the market before the trade deadline passes. Related: What Phillies are seeking next after Jhoan Duran trade Related: White Sox's Andrew Benintendi robs Bryce Harper of 3-run homer
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Phillies Keep $10 Million Mistake on Roster After Trading for Harrison Bader
Following the acquisition of center fielder Harrison Bader at the trade deadline, questions swirled about what the Philadelphia Phillies outfield configuration would look like. Now we have an answer, and Phillies fans aren't thrilled that a $10 million free agent mistake is still on the roster. According to multiple reports, the Phillies have optioned center fielder Johan Rojas to Triple-A to make room for Bader. Rojas posted a .569 OPS, 58 OPS+ and just one home run in 172 plate appearances while platooning in center with Brandon Marsh. While Rojas was sent down, the Phillies decided to stick with outfielder Max Kepler, who they signed to a one-year, $10 million deal in the offseason. Kepler has been a failure, slashing just .203/.297/.357 with a mediocre 80 OPS+ and 11 home runs. The veteran also complained publicly that he was misled about being told he would be the team's everyday left fielder. The left-handed hitting Kepler has been sitting against southpaws this season and mainly starts against righties. Despite his struggles, Kepler is in Friday night's lineup against the Detroit Tigers while Bader is on the bench. After trading for Bader, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski was asked about Kepler's future with the team. 'He's playing in left field for us at this time,' Dombrowski told The Philadelphia Inquirer's Scott Lauber on Thursday night. 'He's actually been swinging the bat a little bit better, particularly vs. right-handed pitching. But he's part of our roster at this time.' Even though Kepler remains on the team, his tenure might be short-lived if and when the Phillies call up top outfield prospect Justin Crawford, who has posted a .325 average and .836 OPS in 83 Triple-A games this season. 'We could bring him up,' Dombrowski noted. 'If we do bring him up, he needs to play a lot. I'm not sure that we're in a position to do that at this point today. But he's not somebody that we would hesitate to bring up if we decide that's the right thing to do.' Once Crawford is ready for his big league call-up, it only makes sense that the Phillies cut ties with their costly mistake in Kepler. As for Bader, he provides the right-handed bat the Phillies desperately needed to balance a lefty-heavy lineup. In 96 games with the Minnesota Twins, he slashed .258/.339/.439 with 12 home runs and a 111 OPS+. He also brings excellent defense to the table. Related Headlines NASCAR standings: Cup Series points leaders 2025, Truck and Xfinity Series standings right now NASCAR Xfinity Results: HyVee Perks 250 Winner, NASCAR Stage Results for Xfinity Series NASCAR Rumors: Legacy Motor Club Could Add 3rd Charter with Haas Factory Merger NFL Reporter Takes Shot at Bill Belichick, Jordan Hudson in Hall of Fame Speech
Yahoo
02-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Phillies done looking for bullpen help, but still looking for a bat
Dave Dombrowski says the club is happy with their bullpen after acquiring Jhoan Duran, but they're still looking for help offensively ahead of tomorrow's trade deadline. Phillies done looking for bullpen help, but still looking for a bat originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
