Overview
- President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski announced the club exercised Alvarado’s option, a $9 million decision reported by Spotrac.
- Alvarado served an 80-game PED suspension announced in May and was ineligible for the postseason, and he apologized after Dombrowski said a weight-loss drug triggered the positive test.
- The left-hander returned on Aug. 20 but a left forearm strain in September ended his season, leaving his health to be evaluated heading into spring.
- With Duran installed as closer, Alvarado is expected to work primarily in a setup role next year.
- In 2025 he posted a 3.81 ERA with 32 strikeouts and seven walks over 28 outings, and his elite cutter whiff rate factored into the decision for a bullpen seeking more swing-and-miss.