PHILADELPHIA — As the news broke of Jose Alvarado‘s suspension this past Sunday, the Phillies staff, players, and fans could not believe what had just happened.
A state of shock and all was the mood as one of the best relievers in baseball had just become shut down for 80 games. Alvarado’s suspension not only hurts the Phillies in the short term, but the long term. Even when he returns late in the season, the left-hander will not be eligible to pitch in the postseason. Rendering him almost as a man without a place on the 2025 Phillies.
The long-term effects of this suspension is that the organization will now have to trade prospects to find a suitable replacement. It was likely that the team would trade for another bullpen piece at this year’s trade deadline, regardless. Now, President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski might have to spring for 2 players.
If and when the Phillies pull the trigger on a deal, they will need to make sure they are finding the right piece. Here are a few players that I expect could fill the Jose Alvarado void in the club’s bullpen.
Phillies Trade Options
3. Dennis Santana
The Pittsburgh Pirates have not had many opportunities to win ballgames in 2025. However, late in games, they have trusted one arm, Dennis Santana, to help bring them closer to the finish line. A closer with no saves is a unique statistic, but based on his surroundings, you cannot blame Santana for the lack of opportunities.
In 19 games this season, Santana has pitched 18.1 innings to an earned run average of 1.96. The right-hander has performed well for the Pirates since being dealt to Pittsburgh in the middle of last season from the New York Yankees.
While Santana is not a left-handed thrower like Alvarado, he does provide experience in the bullpen. He would likely number 2 option behind Jordan Romano and bump Orion Kerkering down to the number 3 right-hander in the bullpen. This would return Kerkering to the spot he was in last year when the team had both Jeff Hoffman and Carlos Estevez.
The return package for Santana would be on the cheaper end of deals, which would benefit the Phillies. The Pirates would be smart to move him this season at the Trade Deadline, but whether or not the Buccos proceed with the move remains to be seen.
2. Hoby Milner
Yes, it’s that Hoby Milner.
The left-handed throwing Texas Ranger was once a Phillies draft selection in the 2012 Amateur draft. Milner made his big league debut with the Phillies in 2017, where he pitched to a 2.01 ERA in 37 games. He has gone on to have quite a big league career, entering his 9th big league season in 2025 with Texas.
Milner has grown his game over the past several seasons. While first pitching for Milwaukee and then the Rangers, Milner has a 3.36 ERA since 2022. He has thrown in 220 games and struck out 205 batters across that timespan.
With the lack of left-handed options for the Phillies, this could be an improvement over Tanner Banks in the bullpen. Matt Strahm is now the number 1 option for a lefty for Rob Thomson, with Banks currently being second. Milner has a better arsenal than Banks, which would give the Phillies another option late in games.
The Rangers enter Monday with a 25-23 record. After winning the 2023 World Series, the club has fallen back to where they were in seasons prior. The club is currently a game back in the American League Wild Card series. With their payroll and expectation to win, the team will likely not be sellers at this point in the season.
However, if things continue to falter for Texas, Milner is a player to watch.
1. Felix Bautista
The biggest surprise of the 2025 season has been the collapse of the Baltimore Orioles. A team that everyone expected to take the next step has fallen to the bottom of Major League Baseball.
The O’s are going nowhere fast, sitting with a 15-30 record at this point in the season. They have fired skipper Brandon Hyde and are 9.5 games back of the playoff picture. It is safe to say that the team will likely be dealing some of its veteran talent at the trade deadline.
That enters Felix Bautista into the picture. Bautista was one of the best relievers in all of baseball in 2023. However, he missed all of 2024 with a partially torn UCL, which required Tommy John surgery. Upon his return this season, Bautista picked up where he left off. In 13 games, the hard-throwing right-hander has a 2.77 earned run average and 7 saves. His strikeout percentage has not quite gotten to where it usually is, but he is still building back his arm strength.
The right-hander’s sinker sits on average around 99.5 miles per hour. This velocity would replace the punch that Alvarado provided the Phillies late in games. That velocity is severely missing from the Phillies’ bullpen at this pivotal turning point in their season.
The Phillies and O’s made 2 deals last year involving bullpen arms. The Phillies sent both Gregory Soto and Seranthony Dominguez to Baltimore for pitching prospects Seth Johnson and Moises Chace. Both young pitchers have flourished in the Phillies’ system.
The Orioles will certainly be dealing Bautista at this year’s Trade Deadline. After being on the wrong side of a few trades last season, expect Baltimore to be picky when it comes to a return package in July.
Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
