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Jose Alvarado Issued 80-Game PED Suspension

By Mark Polishuk | May 18, 2025 at 12:16pm CDT

12:16PM: The Phillies reinstated right-handed Jose Ruiz from the 15-day injured list, and he’ll take the open spot on the 26-man roster now that Alvarado has been moved to the restricted list.

Dombrowski provided some background on Alvarado’s situation when speaking with reporters (including Alex Coffey of the Philadelphia Inquirer) today.  Alvarado told Dombrowski that he didn’t take the PED knowingly, as Alvarado believes it stemmed from his usage of a weight loss drug during the offseason.  After the reliever’s positive test, Alvarado tested negative on two subsequent follow-up tests.  As expected, Dombrowski didn’t address trade possibilities, and noted that the Phillies’ “abundance of starters” could help provide an internal answer to their bullpen needs.

10:37AM: Major League Baseball announced that Phillies reliever Jose Alvarado has been issued an 80-game suspension for a violation of the league’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.  Alvarado (who turns 30 on Wednesday) has tested positive for the PED known as exogenous Testosterone.  In addition to the 80 games lost in the regular season, Alvarado is also ineligible for any postseason action if Philadelphia reaches the playoffs.

The stunning news leaves the Phillies without not just their closer, but one of the few reliable members of what has been an overall shaky bullpen.  Jordan Romano’s early struggles quickly cost him the closer’s role, and Alvarado stepped in as the primary stopper by converting all seven of his save opportunities.  Alvarado has a 2.70 ERA, 29.8% strikeout rate, 47.3% grounder rate, and a career-best 4.8% walk rate over 20 innings for the Phils, and that major improvement to his control was seemingly the headline story of the left-hander’s season.

Now, of course, those numbers have to be called into question in the wake of the league’s ruling.  This is the final guaranteed year of the three-year, $22MM extension Alvarado signed with the Phillies in February 2023, and the Phils hold a $9MM club option (with a $500K buyout) on his services for 2026.  Exercising that option was looking like a no-brainer move for the Phillies just hours ago, yet the team might now prefer to part ways with Alvarado if any doubts remain about the sustainability of his performance.

The shorter-term financial impact on Alvarado is also significant, as the suspension will cost him roughly $4.18MM of his $9MM salary for the 2025 season.  That money is also subtracted from the Phillies’ books, which may bring their estimated luxury tax number (as per RosterResource) under the maximum penalty threshold of $301MM.

That being said, it seems likely that Philadelphia will re-invest that money into reinforcing its bullpen.  The Phillies were surely already looking to add relief pitching even before Alvarado’s suspension, and that need has become even more pronounced now that the team’s closer will be out until mid-August.  President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski is likely going to be challenged to make a quick trade, as even the few teams clearly out of playoff contention will put a high asking price on any trade chips this early in the season.

Romano hasn’t allowed a run over his last seven innings of work, so after a brutal start to the season, he might get the first crack at any save situations.  Matt Strahm or Tanner Banks might also get some looks in late-game situations, or the Phillies could use a committee approach rather than settling on a single full-time closer.

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View Comments (177)
Post a Comment

177 Comments

  1. TradeAcuna

    1 month ago

    teehee

    7
    Reply
  2. HighOnPineTar

    1 month ago

    👏🏽

    4
    Reply
  3. Fooque2

    1 month ago

    Of course…..He was pitching better

    13
    Reply
  4. leftykoufax

    1 month ago

    Drugs are baddd Mmmkay..

    19
    Reply
    • Yankee Clipper

      1 month ago

      “Let’s ask Mr. Hat”

      6
      Reply
    • King Floch

      1 month ago

      Only if you haven’t had good drugs.

      6
      Reply
      • LaFleur

        1 month ago

        Tell that to Mickey Mantles last words

        Reply
  5. DarkSide830

    1 month ago

    OMFG

    5
    Reply
  6. chandlerbing

    1 month ago

    he was pitching so much better than last yr and i was wondering what was up. makes sense now

    sucks for phillies. romano is garbage. BP is weak. bye bye philly WS hopes

    8
    Reply
    • Yooooo

      1 month ago

      Trade for doval

      1
      Reply
      • sad tormented neglected mariners fan

        1 month ago

        Or walker but I doubt the giants want to trade either of them

        3
        Reply
        • TellItGoodbye

          1 month ago

          Doubt? Why would the best bullpen in baseball trade any of them? And now they’ve added Hicks, essentially shortening games to 5-6 innings.

          Reply
      • foppert3

        1 month ago

        Tristan Beck should probably be on a major league roster somewhere. If you got a bullpen need, that’s probably a gettable trade option.

        Reply
      • TellItGoodbye

        1 month ago

        Could’ve had Doval for peanuts early on, now he’s one of the best in THE best bp in MLB. He ain’t going nowhere.

        Reply
    • Dustyslambchops23

      1 month ago

      Lol you think one relief pitcher has this much impact, it’s not even June. Get your emotions in check man

      14
      Reply
      • philsaredone

        1 month ago

        Just ask the Mets when they lost Edwin Diaz.. See you next year.

        4
        Reply
        • Cora the Destroya

          1 month ago

          Diaz isn’t THAT good

          Reply
    • Johnny Devil

      1 month ago

      Alvarado was closer sometimes and a precarious one in crunch time, great news IMO. Dumbrowski has never addressed the question of quality closer, shutdown closer, reliable closer whatever. Time for Dumbrowski to move some of that starting pitching,get 1.

      Reply
    • Hammerin' Hank

      1 month ago

      Romano has been rounding into form recently, if you’ve been paying any attention. He’s not garbage, despite struggling early. Strahm and Kerkering are fine relievers. There are worse bullpens out there than this one.

      2
      Reply
      • Johnny Devil

        1 month ago

        Friend I watch every Phillies game. Phillies bullpen is a hold your breath and hope. Laughing at your Romero comment as I won’t bet my farm on 3 decent performances against the likes of the pirates. Come back to me when you are paying attention.

        Reply
    • douglasb

      1 month ago

      Romano was garbage in April. Check his stats for May.

      1
      Reply
      • Johnny Devil

        1 month ago

        Laughing at this nonsense. Come back in August.

        Reply
        • siddfinch1079

          1 month ago

          Why would you laugh at that since it’s accurate? If you watched any baseball besides your precious Phillies you’d know that Romano is a notorious slow starter with his poor career numbers in April & March compared with the rest of the season. Keep dozing off in your favorite armchair while you leave the real baseball discussions to the people who actually know the game.

          Reply
        • Johnny Devil

          1 month ago

          Romano is on a 1yr prove it deal with the Phillies. Coming off a dismal year for jays, knucklehead. Wasn’t signed to be the Phillies closer and has been brutal in Philly, until several appearances recently against the likes of the pirates. Go back to managing your t-ball team and stop trying to be Dave Dumbrowski.

          Reply
  7. brucebochyisthemarlboroman

    1 month ago

    Ugghhhhhhhhhhhh!!! We are in trouble now. Dombrowski better start making calls ASAP!!

    1
    Reply
    • luvbeisbol

      1 month ago

      Dombrowski excels at assembling bullpen pieces (lol)

      8
      Reply
      • dpcollects

        1 month ago

        Hall of Fame executive, but somehow always falls on the BP sword.

        4
        Reply
        • CarverAndrews

          1 month ago

          Since DD arrived the bullpen has steadily gotten better overall. Old narratives are tired.

          All bullpens are works in progress at all times. The loss of an impact arm would affect any team. The last thing that they need to do however is trade away key pieces of the future for the hotshot relief arm of the season – who, if history suggests, would be iffy anyway.

          1
          Reply
        • UKPhil

          1 month ago

          @ Carver
          Maybe you don’t get a shot at a World Series without trading away a future big timer.
          Marlins won in 2003 in part because they traded away future All Star Adrian Gonzalez to get a quality closer, Urgueth Urbina

          Reply
        • CarverAndrews

          1 month ago

          Valid point UKPhil. I just think that, given the very iffy nature of the arms that will be available, if the cost to acquire is a top 6 in their system it is a hard no.

          And there is no way that I am paying the cost for a Mason Miller with his injury history.

          Phils are in a different spot. They need to mitigate payroll in future years with youth. They have guys knocking on the door to help. They have incredible rotation depth for one, and that basically solves the playoff roster, so it is just getting into the playoffs and they can probably make that work internally or with a lesser addition to the pen than the closer types that everyone talks about.

          Reply
        • Dock_Elvis

          4 weeks ago

          Mason Miller os lights out as a closer. Id pay it.

          Reply
    • Badfinger

      1 month ago

      May I interest you in a former rookie of the year with a neatly groomed beard?

      3
      Reply
      • Gwynning

        1 month ago

        What does Michael Fulmer have to do with this, Badfingah?

        3
        Reply
      • Non Roster Invitee

        1 month ago

        Day After Day.

        Reply
  8. King. Of. Cards

    1 month ago

    Phillies have a good team but the pen was a weakness before this news.

    1
    Reply
  9. Gwynning

    1 month ago

    “Are you sure, Jose?”

    “Phil it up, Doc!”

    10
    Reply
  10. Seahawks19081

    1 month ago

    I get the 80 days, but why the playoffs?
    Also, Dombrowski is overpaying for any reliever now.

    2
    Reply
    • stollcm

      1 month ago

      You do the crime, you do the time.

      20
      Reply
    • YankeesBleacherCreature

      1 month ago

      To further disincentivized cheating. For a player earning the league min., playoffs shares are big bucks for them.

      22
      Reply
    • Dan in Pasadena

      1 month ago

      So they can’t benefit from any victories he may help with. He’s a cheater. Don’t reward any kind of cheating.

      YET, basically nothing of any consequence happened to the 2017 Astros. They still got the trophy, rings & financial shares. Still get called 2017 “World Champion”. It’s a permanent shame on MLB for Manfred to have allowed that.

      24
      Reply
      • FenwayFanatic

        1 month ago

        That’s another discussion

        2
        Reply
      • YankeesBleacherCreature

        1 month ago

        Beating a dead horse, electronic cheating was a systemic issue. The league needed to offer “immunity” to players to help root it out. Manfred acted under the authority of the majority of all the other 29 team owner bosses.

        12
        Reply
      • Luis_Fazenda

        1 month ago

        @Dan in Pasadena “So they can’t benefit from any victories he may help with”

        As drastic and unrealistic as this may sound, I can’t help but thinking that a rule like this would put an end to this kind of crap in VERY short order. Can you imagine how quickly a team would hang a player by his Buster Brown’s if he cost them a truckload of wins?

        3
        Reply
      • ruthlesslyabsurd

        1 month ago

        Not an Astros fan, but I absolutely do not understand how everyone gets so outraged over sign stealing.

        Every. Team. Tries. To. Steal. Signs.

        12
        Reply
        • Fowlerrc

          1 month ago

          If you can’t tell the difference between using a camera and a runner on 2nd peeking in, I really don’t know what to tell you.

          20
          Reply
        • MeowMeow

          1 month ago

          It was the illegal use of tech to steal the signs, which was a widespread problem about which the Astros were one of the more flagrant. Nobody’s outraged about the concept of sign stealing. Sign stealing (or, with pitchcom, looking in to see the pitcher’s grip) via conventional methods is universally recognized and accepted as a part of the in-game strategy.

          10
          Reply
        • Shawn W.

          1 month ago

          @Ruthless I agree but keep in mind that live on camera is a little different than looking in at the catcher from second base.

          2
          Reply
        • CleaverGreene

          1 month ago

          The difference is between what the Yankees have done and the Red Sox have done and what the Astros got caught doing.

          3
          Reply
        • philsaredone

          1 month ago

          Not. With. Banned. Electronic. Devices.

          4
          Reply
        • Champs64

          1 month ago

          Ruthless, Not the way they did it. Not at all!

          1
          Reply
        • Hammerin' Hank

          1 month ago

          I agree ruthlessly.

          Reply
    • Shawn W.

      1 month ago

      @Seahawks I recall that after Melky Cabrera had a PED suspension, then he played in the playoffs that fall. Everyone got so upset that they had to make a new rule that now you’re ineligible for postseason even after your suspension.

      4
      Reply
      • WadeBoggsWildRide

        1 month ago

        Melky was on that muscle milk.

        1
        Reply
      • humbb

        1 month ago

        Actually Melky’s 50 game suspension ended during the 2012 NLCS, but the Giants put him on the restricted list (although eligible to play) and he never again played for the team. And the Giants went on to sweep the highly favored Tigers in the World Series without him.

        Reply
    • Hammerin' Hank

      1 month ago

      Because people were all upset years ago when some player, can’t remember who, got to play in the postseason despite a suspension. But of course when this happens in the NFL the fans say, “He’ll be back for the playoffs, right?” It’s a ridiculous double standard. Once he serves the 80 games he should be able to play in the playoffs if they make it.

      Reply
      • Hammerin' Hank

        1 month ago

        Right, Shawn, it was Melky. I had forgotten.

        Reply
  11. cc22

    1 month ago

    Dang this is gonna hurt

    1
    Reply
  12. Shawn W.

    1 month ago

    The kid imitating his pitching is now miming a needle into his gut. So sad.

    3
    Reply
  13. stubby66

    1 month ago

    Well Phillies call the Brewers they got Payamps, Pegura, Mcgee, Yeager, Hudson, and Rob Zast that would all be available

    Reply
    • FenwayFanatic

      1 month ago

      Didn’t Rob Zastryzny just get dealt to the Yankees the other day??

      1
      Reply
    • sad tormented neglected mariners fan

      1 month ago

      I’ve never heard of any of those arms so they probably aren’t closers

      Reply
      • FenwayFanatic

        1 month ago

        Payamps isn’t bad. Though he’s been terrible this year. Good in the previous couple seasons

        2
        Reply
      • Hammerin' Hank

        1 month ago

        Never heard of Payamps?

        Reply
  14. bigalcathey

    1 month ago

    Is MLB getting better at detection or are the players getting dumber?
    I had Alvarado on my fantasy team (I also had Profar). I’m beginning to see a trend here….

    3
    Reply
    • WadeBoggsWildRide

      1 month ago

      Oh man you got hosed. By the juice.

      1
      Reply
  15. Asfan0780

    1 month ago

    Phillies mason miller trade incoming. PA native, went to college in state. Struggling lately but talent is there

    Reply
    • Rsox

      1 month ago

      And what 4 top prospects are you giving up in this deal?

      8
      Reply
  16. Cash-Man-NY

    1 month ago

    Bohm for Devin Williams & Everson Pereira

    Reply
    • kevnames42

      1 month ago

      I’d rather keep Williams and bank on a rebound at some point than acquire Bohm. Terrible defense and meh offensively

      6
      Reply
      • Cash-Man-NY

        1 month ago

        I just don’t think no matter how good he does this year he would ever consider resigning with the Yankees once he’s a free agent

        although I do see him turning it around in a big way for the remainder of the season

        Reply
        • YankeesBleacherCreature

          1 month ago

          He’s already started turning it around in his non-closer role. He handled news of his demotion like a champ. If the Yankees offer him the most money to close games, he’ll resign. Williams will close again and Weaver will get bumped back to being a high-leverage, multi-innings reliever.

          4
          Reply
        • philliesphan77

          1 month ago

          There’s a big different between resign and re-sign. Just sayin’.

          5
          Reply
        • kevnames42

          1 month ago

          Cash-Man – Why not? If he returns to the dominant closer he has been I’m sure the Yanks will have interest in retaining him and offer market value +. No reason he wouldn’t be interested unless you have insider knowledge that he hates New York or something

          Reply
        • Rsox

          1 month ago

          Perhaps he resigned himself to the fact that he won’t re-sign…

          2
          Reply
    • Yankee Clipper

      1 month ago

      I think a big difference for {Williams} will be getting traded against his wishes and disrupting his life, versus getting to choose the Yankees (if he does).

      Mainly, I think getting traded messes with certain people who don’t like change. Whether it should or not is a different story, but it certainly does.

      I really hope Williams finds his groove because I was such a huge fan of that trade.

      Go Yanks!

      Reply
  17. Cardinals are good

    1 month ago

    Phillies will trade for helsley now. He’s on the block and he is a good closer. Plus he is in a contract year. Enough time to get Alvarado back but get helsley to fill in for a bit

    1
    Reply
    • King. Of. Cards

      1 month ago

      Helsley is not on the block. You made that up.

      1
      Reply
    • Rsox

      1 month ago

      Cardinals are 1 game behind the Cubs and have won 12 out of their last 13 games. Why would they trade their closer now?

      6
      Reply
      • Cardinals are good

        1 month ago

        I’m not trying to say now. I’ve heard that the Phils are in talks involving him

        Reply
    • Fowlerrc

      1 month ago

      If the Cardinals were gonna trade Helsley, he’d already be gone. They’re certainly not gonna trade him after winning 12 of 13 or whatever this. They’d have to completely tank and have almost a zero chance of making the playoffs to trade him by the deadline, and by that point, there will be a bidding war for his services. They’d Cardinals aren’t just going to accept the first offer they get from Philly lol

      2
      Reply
  18. Wire to wire 2024

    1 month ago

    Maybe the can fix Alexis Diaz

    3
    Reply
  19. King Floch

    1 month ago

    Beautiful, accumulating saves just got a lot more troublesome for 2 of my 3 fantasy teams.

    But back in the real world, I wonder what Philly would give up for Felix Bautista…

    6
    Reply
    • King Floch

      1 month ago

      k keep me posted

      4
      Reply
    • philliesphan77

      1 month ago

      Rachel-

      I care more about his fantasy team than I care about you.

      4
      Reply
      • King Floch

        1 month ago

        He’s probably just being tsundere.

        I bet he actually wants to pick my brain on draft philosophy and roster construction strategy so he can improve his fantasy team’s performance next year, but he’s just too shy to ask outright.

        2
        Reply
      • WadeBoggsWildRide

        1 month ago

        I mean you are a dude in women’s clothing. Might as well dress up like a fireman too.

        1
        Reply
      • Hammerin' Hank

        1 month ago

        Good one, Philliesphan!

        Reply
    • O'sSayCanYouSee

      1 month ago

      Trade Felix?? God why? Soto or Seranthony, for sure…but Felix has like 4 years of control left ..

      Reply
      • King Floch

        1 month ago

        Bautista only has 2.5 years left before free agency and there are multiple contenders that need closers, which could drive the bidding pretty high, so we should absolutely be shopping him this deadline.

        We don’t necessarily have to pull the trigger, but we should 100% be listening very closely.

        1
        Reply
        • O'sSayCanYouSee

          1 month ago

          King — You on some ‘burn it all down’ thinking? I don’t see any reason the team isn’t contending next year.

          If you shop Felix, you wanna shop Adley too? Jackson Holliday? Guys about to be free agents, for sure. There’s a lot of soon-to-be Free Agents on the squad. Plus, no other ‘seller’ has the amount of assets the Orioles have to offer. Think they have plenty to offer without selling the kitchen sink.

          Reply
        • King Floch

          1 month ago

          At the end of the day, Felix is just a relief pitcher on a bad team, and if you’re a bad team with a really good reliever that only has 2 more years of control after the current season, you should absolutely be shopping that guy to contenders at the deadline, especially when you desperately need young, high ceiling starting pitching and don’t have any on the horizon in the minors.

          Bautista would bring back a huge return at the deadline, and if a team like Philly would part with a pitching prospect like Painter for him, you have to do that.

          Reply
        • brucebochyisthemarlboroman

          1 month ago

          They would absolutely not part with Painter for Bautista straight up. That would be insanity.

          Reply
        • King Floch

          1 month ago

          You may very well be right Bruce, but the Marlins got 3 of a well-regarded San Diego system’s top 5 prospects for 2 months of Tanner Scott last year, so I don’t think it’s quite as crazy as you seem to think. Elite relief pitching is highly prized at the trade deadline, and the fact that he’s not a rental only makes him even more valuable. And he’s still cheap, so basically every contender remotely in need of bullpen help would be in on him, even the teams without much payroll wiggle room, and so I would expect the bidding to get pretty intense.

          But I was simply using Painter as an example of the kind of near-ready, high ceiling SP prospect I would be looking for if I was going to move Bautista, not saying “Painter or bust.”

          1
          Reply
    • ctbronx7

      1 month ago

      Are the Orioles so far below .500 that it’s already Fire Sale time?

      Reply
      • O'sSayCanYouSee

        1 month ago

        Yeah, they kinda are. Baltimore debates are about how much of the house to tear down at this point. 😢

        Reply
      • King Floch

        1 month ago

        Pretty much.

        I wouldn’t be shopping guys that still have a lot of control and are part of the young core (like Gunnar or Cowser) but guys with 2 or less years of control after 2025 (like Felix Bautista and the guys in their walk year like Eflin and Mullins) should absolutely be on the table.

        Reply
  20. I Threw Batteries at JD Drew

    1 month ago

    Mick Abel showcase today in Philly

    3
    Reply
    • DarkSide830

      1 month ago

      Ima be real, as much as they’ve said otherwise, it kinda already felt like that.

      Reply
    • Gwynning

      1 month ago

      I wonder if they’ll just keep him up now and let Taijuan stick in the Pen…

      Reply
    • O'sSayCanYouSee

      1 month ago

      Mick Abel and Andrew Painter to the Orioles for Cedric Mullins, Gregory Soto, Ramon Urias, Coby Mayo, and Cade Povich.

      Who says no?

      Reply
      • Bart Harley Jarvis

        1 month ago

        No.

        3
        Reply
        • CarverAndrews

          1 month ago

          It would be more of a “are you effin’ kidding me” kinda’ no, followed by “do not ever propose a trade to us again”. And then sending a bill for wasting my time…that kinda’ no.

          3
          Reply
      • Gwynning

        1 month ago

        Well, Bart Harley Jarvis for one, me for two… but most importantly- Philly. Philadelphia says no, but maybe not before the phone clicks.

        2
        Reply
  21. Rsox

    1 month ago

    Call the Braves about bringing Kimbrel back

    Reply
  22. Acoss1331

    1 month ago

    Well, that’s disappointing. He joins Profar on the naughty list…

    5
    Reply
    • King Floch

      1 month ago

      And yet Judge remains unscathed.

      (Kidding!)

      3
      Reply
  23. CarryABigStick

    1 month ago

    Why not give Painter a shot?

    Reply
    • christopher8002

      1 month ago

      He’s still in his first year following surgery and going from a starting pitching routine to pitching several times per week is probably a bad idea for his development. …. Suarez and Sanchez have pitched in the relief before, though.

      1
      Reply
    • WadeBoggsWildRide

      1 month ago

      Getting shots is what caused this mess in the first place!

      2
      Reply
  24. christopher8002

    1 month ago

    1. Sign David Robertson
    2. Seriously think about which LH starter (Sanchez, Luzardo, Suarez) might make best high leverage October reliever & think about when to test that transition. (Your October rotation would still have Wheeler, two lefties, Nola and Painter to choose from. And Taijuan Walker still exists)
    3. So no to the trade possibilities what would cost more than 1 top prospect. The farm ain’t deep. Look for a guy with good stuff rather than a name like Helsley. And strike early, before the deadline rush.

    6
    Reply
    • Captain Dunsel

      1 month ago

      I think it has to be Suarez to the bullpen. I wouldn’t mess with Luzardo the way he is pitching and Sanchez is doing too well in the rotation. Suarez has done October relief before, and the Alvarado suspension justifies the Phillies putting him in the pen in his walk year. If they are worried about the PR and want to placate him, tell Suarez he can hit free agency without a QO in appreciation.

      Reply
    • WadeBoggsWildRide

      1 month ago

      Signing guys after spring training hasn’t worked too well for the league the last few years.

      Reply
  25. MarkNYM

    1 month ago

    A highlight from one of the several “best shape of his life” fluff articles written about Alvarado this spring: (worth googling, especially the Matt Gelb puff piece *eyeroll*)

    “I had a great offseason,” said Alvarado after striking out two and hitting 100 mph in a 1-2-3 inning on Thursday. “I changed my routine about eating. I lost weight. Latin people, we eat a lot of rice and beans. I switched for more protein, veggies. I came in in good shape and I’m so happy about the result today.”

    Protein, veggies, a little exogenous Testosterone sprinkled in for good measure. After last year’s “I’m f***ing fat” sound bite from a Phillies broadcast, I felt for the guy, but he went down the wrong path when he reached the crossroads of a contract year and declining performance.

    8
    Reply
    • YankeesBleacherCreature

      1 month ago

      The Phils have a $9M team option for him. They were probably going to pick that up.

      2
      Reply
      • MarkNYM

        1 month ago

        And Alvarado was obviously hoping for a raise.

        1
        Reply
  26. njmatt82

    1 month ago

    They could look into David Robertson. Nobody has signed him.

    4
    Reply
  27. AL B DAMNED

    1 month ago

    Jose can you see
    By the dawn’s early light
    But so proudly you failed
    At the drug test receiving
    Who’s pin stripes with the stars
    Who strike out so damn often
    Let me take a supplement
    So I can go on vacation
    And the rockets red glare
    Swarbombs flying thru the air
    Gave proof though the night
    That the Braves are still there
    Jose does that Star Spangled
    Banner yet wave
    O’er the land of the free
    And the home of The Braves!

    5
    Reply
  28. biff_pocoroba

    1 month ago

    I think we just figured out whose playoff spot the Braves are taking.

    2
    Reply
    • WadeBoggsWildRide

      1 month ago

      Woof.

      Reply
  29. BigA 3

    1 month ago

    Hello Perry, is Kenley Jansen available now or in a month and a half?

    3
    Reply
  30. stugots

    1 month ago

    Funny how players that aren’t Americans are the ones getting busted for PED. Try play dumb oh I didn’t know lol

    1
    Reply
    • Sparky1000

      1 month ago

      What a dumb take.

      2
      Reply
      • WadeBoggsWildRide

        1 month ago

        Is it in any way inaccurate? Is noticing the obvious somehow dumb?

        1
        Reply
        • Sparky1000

          1 month ago

          It’s true that non-American players test positive more often, but it shouldn’t be seen like their dumber or inferior than American players.

          1
          Reply
        • WadeBoggsWildRide

          1 month ago

          I would say anyone that gets caught cheating is dumb. I see your point in singling out latin born players.

          1
          Reply
        • WadeBoggsWildRide

          1 month ago

          There is a bigger risk reward for someone from a poor country.

          1
          Reply
    • WadeBoggsWildRide

      1 month ago

      Easier to get overseas. Probably buy it all over the counter for pennies on the dollar.

      2
      Reply
  31. MrPeanutHead

    1 month ago

    Give DRob a call and see how he’s feeling. Couldn’t be worse than anyone else in the Phillies pen.

    1
    Reply
    • WadeBoggsWildRide

      1 month ago

      3rd time I have seen this comment and now I am starting to think it isn’t such a bad idea. Pay $8 million to see how well an old guy can pitch by the All Star break after no spring training. Out of Rich Hill, Gibson and DRob I guess DRob is probably the safest bet.

      1
      Reply
  32. CO Guardening

    1 month ago

    This should accelerate the trade season.

    Reply
  33. Mets Era Thumping Soto

    1 month ago

    Both the Braves and Phillies using PEDs to compete with the Mets, how funny.

    2
    Reply
    • NashvilleJeff

      1 month ago

      “How funny” is it that Profar wasn’t a Brave when he was using PED’s. He was a Padre. Tested positive before signing w/Atlanta and his appeal was denied after the signing. Braves should be allowed to void the signing, but the MLBPA protects it’s cheaters.

      2
      Reply
      • Mets Era Thumping Soto

        1 month ago

        You would think it was funny if it was a Met but I agree that PED users contracts should be voided when caught. At least you got Acuña coming back real soon.

        2
        Reply
        • NashvilleJeff

          1 month ago

          @Mets: I actually wouldn’t think it was funny if he was a Met. I didn’t join in the posters above who were mocking the Phils for Alvarado’s suspension. I don’t blame teams for a players stupidity when it comes to steroid use. They’re cheaters trying to steal money from other players and the organization that’s unfortunate to employ them.

          2
          Reply
  34. Free Palestine

    1 month ago

    The only peoplewho get caught are the ones who have bad chemists. The good chemist are able to stay ahead of the testing. That’s why there’s always new steroids, and chemicals like SARMs, etc

    1
    Reply
  35. RaysFan1998

    1 month ago

    😂🤣

    Permanent bans
    Only while they are breathing eh? …

    🖖

    Reply
  36. Acoss1331

    1 month ago

    Uh, if the Cubs sign Robertson they’ll keep him they need bullpen help…

    Reply
  37. cwsOverhaul

    1 month ago

    Robertson represents himself. Could see him loving the chance to pitch for an upper tier team like Philly or Cubs at nice $$ given the urgency…..but not as a trade flip.

    4
    Reply
  38. This one belongs to the Reds

    1 month ago

    Big loss for them due to stupidity.

    1
    Reply
  39. mlbdodgerfan2015

    1 month ago

    Cue the “I didn’t knowingly take this substance”. Blah, blah, blah.

    Reply
  40. AHH-Rox

    1 month ago

    Daniel Bard is unsigned.
    And should remain so.

    Reply
  41. Cohen's _Wallet

    1 month ago

    Poor decision making

    1
    Reply
  42. ❤️ MuteButton

    1 month ago

    The large majority of these players say they don’t know how they tested positive. I believe most of those players are lying, however what about the ones (if any) that are telling the truth? What a shame

    Reply
  43. Sparky1000

    1 month ago

    Probably the best news for the Braves so far.

    Reply
  44. GarryHarris

    1 month ago

    Dave Dombrowski needs a relief pitcher so he’ll acquire Rafael Devers.

    1
    Reply
    • WadeBoggsWildRide

      1 month ago

      Chris Taylor is available for league minimum!

      2
      Reply
    • dmbphils27

      1 month ago

      Dom Brown was at the game yesterday, he’s available

      Reply
  45. whyhayzee

    1 month ago

    Players know about testing so they need to be way more careful, like Olympic athletes.

    Reply
  46. ESPNSUCKS

    1 month ago

    I guess caffeine wasn’t the only thing he was taking

    Reply
  47. CarverAndrews

    1 month ago

    As a Phils fan this is a huge disappointment. As a fan of the game, one wonders how, after all of this time, a player wouldn’t run each and every supplement above the level of Advil through the club. As a guy that spent decades in many different dugouts however, it is hard to overestimate the level of stupidity when it comes to a lot of baseball players. I always loved them, but wow – there is a lot of dumb going on out there.

    Okay – not quite m*gasphere dumb but you get the point.

    The best idea that I have seen is David Robertson – they can weather the 4-6 weeks that it might take him to ramp up. There is no way that they should trade premium prospects for rental relief arms. They are stacked in the rotation, and have a bit of help that might step up on the farm.

    This hurts, but they can weather it despite some of the idiotic posturing that I saw above from fans of other teams.

    2
    Reply
  48. Mr. McNasty

    1 month ago

    Alvarado = a dispicable cheater

    Reply
  49. johnnybadd2019

    1 month ago

    Tyler Matzek is available on the cheap and he can close games out

    1
    Reply
  50. onthebucks

    1 month ago

    I do not condone the use of PEDs in sports or use of any medications that are not essential for the maintenance of someone’s health. However, there have been proven instances in the wide wide world of sports where players have unwittingly taken drugs that were considered performance enhancers. There have also been proven instances when players actually required performance enhancers for the treatment of conditions like ADHD. So, a player testing positive for a PED is not always the sine qua non of someone trying to cheat the system.

    Also, it is naive to think there aren’t a significant number of current professional athletes who continue to knowingly use performance enhancing drugs that aren’t tested for under current guidelines or are precursors to substances that are capable of enhancing performance after the ingested drug is metabolized in the body. Skilled chemists have long been able to create designer drugs that enhance athletic performance without being detected by conventional testing. Nature has too. In that regard, professional sports still lags science when it comes to performance enhancement.

    Players having great seasons do not have to be using PEDs, just as players having poor seasons are not necessarily doing so because they suddenly stopped using PEDs. Unfortunately, the skeptics among us will continue to believe what they choose to believe, regardless of evidence or lack of evidence to the contrary.

    Hall of Famer David Ortiz was one of one-hundred major league players who tested positive for a PED in 2003, one year before MLB established its rules on PED use. Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt admitted to using amphetamines prior to his retirement in 1989 and publicly stated that the use of amphetamines was once common among players of his generation. And yet, players like Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, who helped redefine their sport, are being denied admission to the Hall of Fame as though their suspected PED use alone was responsible for their stellar performances. Would Bonds have still become one of baseball’s greatest hitters or Clemens one of baseball’s most dominant pitchers if they had never used PEDs? Methinks they would have.

    There is a lot of hypocrisy that has accompanied the use of PEDs in professional sports. Unfortunately, there are still more questions than answers, allegations than proofs, and assumptions than facts surrounding this controversial issue.

    5
    Reply
    • YankeesBleacherCreature

      1 month ago

      You make some good points. However, every team and the league itself has nutrition handlers who can check the stuff against a banned list before you put it in your body. If you have medical needs, you can get a medical exemption note from a legitimate doctor. Want to boost your low testosterone levels at a men’s health and well-being clinic? Connect them with the team doctor first. There are no excuses for players.

      5
      Reply
      • onthebucks

        1 month ago

        creature, You’re absolutely right. In the vast majority of cases, there are no excuses. Those who continue to juice realize what they’re doing, as do their chemists who remain a step or two ahead of MLB. I’m sure designer drugs guaranteed to enhance performance and evade detection aren’t cheap but, if it’s one thing most big leaguers have, it’s money to burn. It must be hard for an honest player who is not using PEDs but having an unusually strong season to continue doing so realizing many fans suspect him of juicing. It must be equally difficult for an honest marquee player who is not using PEDs but having a down year to continue playing without the suspicion that he recently stopped juicing. The entire story of PED use in pro sports has more than its fair share of plots and subplots, with a strong likelihood of more being unknown about the subject than known. As Kelsey the bartender frequently reminded Mr. Bunker, “Arch, these is questions for bigger minds than ours.”

        2
        Reply
  51. HBan22

    1 month ago

    Time to bring back David Robertson.

    Reply
  52. cc22

    1 month ago

    Dave Dombrowski dial up Emmanuel Clase. There were rumors last offseason. Make it happen

    Reply
  53. Well said.

    1 month ago

    If you need relief pitching you call Detroit. Tigers have lots of good young arms. But if you want to trade you need a 3B player who bats right handed or a trade is not likely because that is the only player Detroit needs.

    Reply
    • stymeedone

      1 month ago

      Vierling will be the right handed 3B in a week or so. Not a real 3B, but better than Bohm. Also, why would the team with the best record in baseball be trading from its major league roster? Why not trade for a Dodgers arm?

      Reply
    • GarryHarris

      1 month ago

      Detroit doesn’t align with the Phillies, IMO.

      Reply
      • CarverAndrews

        1 month ago

        Considering that they are both strong contenders for the playoffs, I would clearly agree.

        1
        Reply
  54. modifish

    1 month ago

    Didn’t see this coming….team wasn’t really going anywhere this year anyway imo..maybe a third wc and one and done. Robertson and the Phil’s haven’t mixed well in the past but at least they won’t have to give up any prospects to get him…so why not.

    Reply
  55. stymeedone

    1 month ago

    Romano to closer, and a starter moves to the bullpen to take Domino’s old role.

    Reply
    • stymeedone

      1 month ago

      Romano’s old role. I hate spell check.

      Reply
  56. robw5555

    1 month ago

    This was no weight loss drug. Thats a hoax. I am not sure that the weight loss drugs are banned by MLB anyway like Ozempic, Weegovy etc. I cant see why they would be a banned substance. Nice cover story however.

    Reply
    • smuzqwpdmx

      1 month ago

      There’s no reason weight loss drugs would avoid substances banned by MLB. I would be surprised if there weren’t a lot of weight loss drugs containing MLB-banned substances.

      The issue is, why is a player taking anything without clearing it through their team’s trainers first? For quite a few years now they’ve been warned to clear any drugs because you never know what they may have traces of that’s not listed on the label.

      It could be be as simple as a guy wanting his team’s trainers to think his weight loss is due to hard work and diet instead of drugs. Pride and embarrassment lead to poor decisions.

      1
      Reply
      • WadeBoggsWildRide

        1 month ago

        Or he is taking a drug to enhance his play, like on purpose and stuff.

        Reply
  57. Redsman59

    1 month ago

    Updated Penalties:
    First offense
    1. 243 game suspension
    2. Forfeiture of remaining contract and the clubs option to do so within 162 games of reinstatement.
    Second offense:
    1. 3 yr suspension, never to sign more than a one year deal at min salary or lifetime ban. Players option

    Reply
  58. Redsman59

    1 month ago

    Piece of crap cheaters

    1
    Reply
    • letitbelowenstein

      1 month ago

      Agree 100%

      Reply
  59. SkudFO

    1 month ago

    Is Coonrod free?

    Reply
  60. letitbelowenstein

    1 month ago

    At this point, just ban them for life. They know the rules and still stick their tongues out at MLB. Start getting tougher.

    Reply
  61. The Saber-toothed Superfife

    1 month ago

    $301M
    ?
    I thought the Dom was good.
    That’s BIG spending.

    Reply
  62. Mitchell Page

    1 month ago

    I would like to see my A’s be bold and trade Mason Miller to the Phillies before the deadline for Andrew Painter. The team is not ready this year but can capitalize now.

    Reply
    • CarverAndrews

      1 month ago

      @MP – That is a hard no.

      Reply

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