Back to the Philadelphia Phillies Newsfeed

2023 Phillies in review: José Alvarado

It’s December of 2020 and new POBO Dave Dombrowski, new GM Sam Fuld, and the rest of the Phillies’ brain trust are presented with the unenviable task of fixing one of the worst bullpens in the history of Major League Baseball.

Do they sign one of the hot free-agent relievers on the market - Liam Hendriks, Brad Hand, perhaps Trevor May? Do they try to make a splash trade for Raisel Iglesias or Josh Hader? Are any of these things even reasonable when your All-Star best-in-the-game catcher is still a free agent, the fans (and your best player) are demanding that you re-sign him as soon as possible, and all the while the edict from the owner’s office is to stay below the luxury tax?