The Philadelphia Phillies have some important decisions to make this offseason, and one of the easiest should be letting José Alvarado walk in free agency. After six seasons with the organization, the veteran left-hander is coming off the worst campaign of his career, giving the Phillies plenty of reason to look for an upgrade rather than bring him back for another run.
Alvarado has been an important part of Philadelphia's bullpen over the last six years, but past success cannot outweigh what happened in 2026. The 31-year-old finished with a 5.86 ERA and a 1.65 WHIP across 58.1 innings, while opposing hitters batted .279 against him. He also walked 31 batters, the second-highest total of his career, and recorded a strike percentage of just 60 percent, his third-worst mark.
Those numbers paint a concerning picture for a reliever who was expected to provide reliable innings in high-leverage situations. Alvarado threw 1,129 pitches this season, the most of his career, yet struggled to consistently command the strike zone and keep opposing hitters off base. Philadelphia cannot afford to keep relying on a pitcher whose performance has become this unpredictable, particularly with its championship aspirations still intact.
The Phillies Need a Better Setup Option for Jhoan Duran
Alvarado's struggles also extend into October. Across 23 career postseason appearances, he owns a 4.14 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. Those numbers are not “disastrous”, but they are far from reassuring for a team that needs its bullpen to deliver when the stakes are highest. The Phillies have invested heavily in building a roster capable of competing for a World Series, and they cannot keep hoping Alvarado will rediscover his best form when the margin for error shrinks.
Philadelphia also exercised Alvarado's club option for roughly $9 million ahead of the 2026 season. That investment did not produce the consistency the organization needed. Re-signing him would mean committing more money to a reliever coming off a difficult year when the team should be searching for more dependable options.
Article Continues BelowJasson Domínguez (6)
Opponent: Philadelphia Phillies
Pitcher: José Alvarado
Date: 07/25/2026 pic.twitter.com/4jnv11e3Rw— Yankees Home Runs (@NYY_HR) July 25, 2026
That does not mean Alvarado has nothing left to offer. At 31, the hard-throwing southpaw still has time to rebound, and a change of scenery could be exactly what he needs. In a less demanding role with another club, he could rediscover the form that once made him a dominant setup man and a potential closing option. But Philly should not be the team betting on that turnaround. Opposing National League hitters have had success against him, and the Phillies need to make decisions based on what their bullpen requires moving forward.
Jhoan Duran remains an elite closer, but even the best relievers need dependable help getting to the ninth inning. Manager Don Mattingly (who just signed a 2-year deal to remain manager) faced criticism for leaving Duran in during the first game of the Wild Card Series against the Atlanta Braves, when Austin Riley launched a go-ahead three-run homer in the eighth inning. One difficult postseason moment should not define Duran, but it reinforced how quickly a game can slip away when the bullpen cannot get the necessary outs.
The Phillies should focus on finding an effective setup man who can bridge the gap to Duran without requiring an expensive commitment. There may be other expiring contracts worth reconsidering, but Alvarado stands out as a clear candidate to move on from. Philadelphia needs a bullpen built on reliability. After the season he just had, bringing Alvarado back would be a gamble the Phillies do not need to take.