It has been 95 days since José Alvarado last pitched for the Philadelphia Phillies. Tuesday marks the left-hander's return from an 80-game PED suspension.
With space on the roster at a premium, the Phillies opted to demote newcomer Nolan Hoffman from the bullpen. Phillies fans likely had another name in mind of who they would like to see gone from their team: Jordan Romano.
The Phillies announced the roster move to activate Alvarado from the restricted list on Tuesday afternoon ahead of their second game against the Seattle Mariners. The corresponding 26-man roster move saw Hoffman optioned back to Triple-A Lehigh Valley just a day after he was recalled and made his MLB debut. Left-hander Josh Walker was designated for assignment to make room for Alvarado on the 40-man roster.
The Phillies returned LHP José Alvarado from his rehab assignment with Lehigh Valley (AAA) & reinstated him from the restricted list. To make room on the 26-man roster, RHP Nolan Hoffman was optioned to LHV & to make room on the 40-man roster, LHP Josh Walker has been DFA’d.
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) August 19, 2025
Alvarado's last appearance out of the Phillies' bullpen was on May 16. He was suspended on May 18 for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance related to a weight-loss drug he took in the offseason. Before his suspension, Alvarado was lights out. He had a 2.70 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 20 innings, recording seven saves.
Alvarado appeared in five games for the IronPigs on his rehab assignment and showed good velocity. He allowed four hits and four walks but didn't give up a run in five innings. He struck out four.
Optioning Nolan Hoffman for José Alvarado saves Jordan Romano for now
Hoffman was called up on Monday, replacing Max Lazar, to provide the Phillies with a fresh arm in the bullpen. The 28-year-old right-hander came in to pitch the ninth inning of the Phillies' eventual 12-7 win.
While he gave up three runs on three hits and a walk, he did record a pair of strikeouts. One of those strikeouts, the final out in fact, was against MLB home run leader Cal Raleigh, whose connection to Hoffman made the debut even more special, per Jeff Kerr of CBS Philadelphia.
Optioning Hoffman has given veteran reliever Jordan Romano and his jarring 7.56 ERA a reprieve from possibly being released. Phillies fans were reminded, yet again, how poorly the former two-time All-Star's season has gone after another poor showing on Monday.
Romano came in with two outs and a runner on in the seventh, taking over after Ranger Suárez's impressive bounceback start. He allowed a bloop single to J.P. Crawford before Cole Young blasted a 389-foot three-run home run to right field, shrinking the Phillies' lead to 7-4.
Absolutely crushed by Cole 🚀 pic.twitter.com/zyckf1CGMc
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) August 19, 2025
It was a good summation of how Romano's season has gone. While he has shown the ability to go stretches without allowing runs, when he gets hit, he gets hit hard. He has now allowed a career-high nine home runs and 36 runs (35 earned) in just 41 2/3 innings. It has been an unmitigated disaster.
Whether it was Lazar or Hoffman on the roster, they were the last remaining bullpen arms with options that the Phillies would consider sending to Triple-A. The only other relievers with minor league options are closer Jhoan Duran (who is not going anywhere) and Orion Kerkering and Tanner Banks, who are pitching well and playing integral roles this season.