Phillies Lose Closer Jose Alvarado to 80-Game PED Suspension

The Philadelphia Phillies bullpen suffered a major setback when closer Jose Alvarado was suspended for 80 games after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug, exogenous testosterone, sidelining him for most of the season and the postseason if the Phillies qualify. Alvarado had been a key reliever with a 2.70 ERA and strong strikeout rate before his suspension, leaving the Phillies to consider multiple bullpen reinforcements, including free agent David Robertson and trade targets like Felix Bautista and Ryan Helsley. Jordan Romano and Matt Strahm have seen increased roles in the bullpen, with Romano notably becoming a favored option for fantasy baseball managers due to his recent strong save conversion and ERA. The Phillies are also exploring trade options such as Jonathan Holder, Clay Holmes, and Adam Ottavino, and are urged to be aggressive at the trade deadline to secure a shutdown reliever, given the uncertainty around current bullpen performance. The Cardinals' Ryan Helsley is viewed as a potential trade target for the Phillies, while the Cardinals themselves focus on restocking pitching prospects like Mick Abel amid their own injury challenges. Phillies star Bryce Harper has acknowledged the difficulty of the situation, underscoring the urgency for the team to find reliable bullpen support to maintain their postseason aspirations.