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Jose Alvarado Suspended 80 Games for Weight Loss Drug, Ineligible for Postseason

By Kyle Pagan

Published: May 18th, 2025 · 12:34 PM EDT

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The Phillies were dealt a massive blow today:

Jose Alvarado receives an 80-game PED suspension without pay and will be ineligible for Postseason if Phillies reach.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) May 18, 2025

And to think we thought it was the seven espresso shots a day that kept his fastball humming.

Here is the Phillies official statement:

The Phillies fully support Major League Baseball’s Joint Prevention and Treatment Program and are disappointed to hear today’s news of Jose’s violation.

This sucks. You lose your best reliever for the entire season and now need to rely on a bullpen that hasn’t been the steadiest. The good news is they’ve been solid as of late, but Phils fans are always waiting for the other shoe to drop. They’ve struggled with their righty relievers this year and losing a dominant lefty is going to be backbreaking. This also adds to Dave Dombrowski’s plate when the deadline approaches. Gotta wonder with the World Series window closing on this team everyday which prospects are safe and which aren’t. Today’s Mick Abel start just potentially became even more important.

Alvarado won’t appeal the suspension and apparently the failure was caused by a weight loss drug according to Dombrowski:

Dave Dombrowski said Jose Alvarado did not appeal the suspension. It was a weight loss drug that caused the failure.

His 80-game suspension starts today. Just a massive blow for the Phillies bullpen.

— Luke Arcaini (@ArcainiLuke) May 18, 2025

Was the Phillies season derailed by Ozempic and vanity?

“Bro I feel like a fat boy. I’m fucking fat.”

Jose Alvarado is all of us coming out of winter pic.twitter.com/ukfVoaYhu4

— Crossing Broad (@CrossingBroad) March 18, 2024

I know the MLB wants to be tough on steroids, but it’s crazy that Jose Alvarado can come back in Game 125, help the Phils get to the playoffs, but then can’t pitch in the postseason. It doesn’t make sense that you’re 45 games in, you get popped for steroids, and now you can’t pitch five months from now. Now if the suspension fell during the postseason I agree the player shouldn’t be allowed to play, but you’re basically turning an 80 game suspension into even more depending on the length of the playoff run. The Phillies are going to severely miss Alvarado’s arm. He’s not going to get paid. Isn’t that enough punishment? Make it make sense.