Jose Alvarado's 80-Game Suspension: What You Need to Know

So, here’s the scoop: Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jose Alvarado is gonna be sidelined for a while. Yeah, he’s been hit with an 80-game suspension after testing positive for exogenous testosterone, which is, you know, a performance-enhancing substance. This news broke on May 18, and it’s definitely shaking things up for the team.

Now, the team president, Dave Dombrowski, came out and said that Alvarado’s positive test was linked to a weight loss drug he took during the offseason. “It’s not something he did knowingly,” Dombrowski mentioned, expressing his belief in Alvarado’s side of the story. I mean, it’s a tough situation, right?

Manager Rob Thomson also weighed in, saying, “We’ve got to move on. It’s too bad, but we’ve got to move on. We have really good pieces here that can pick up the slack.” So, it sounds like the team is trying to stay positive and focus on what they’ve got, even with this setback.

If everything goes according to plan, Alvarado could be back on the mound for the Phillies’ game against the Seattle Mariners on August 19. But, here’s the kicker: he’s gonna lose half of his $9 million salary during this suspension. Ouch!

Now, let’s not forget that the MLB has had its fair share of scandals over the years. I mean, we’ve seen everything from substance abuse to gambling issues. Back in 2013, a bunch of players were accused of using human growth hormone (HGH) from the Biogenesis of America clinic in Florida. It was a huge deal, and 20 players were initially implicated, with 14 ultimately tied to the claims.

And then there’s Tony Bosch, the clinic’s owner, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute testosterone in 2014. He got four years in prison, but it was never really clear if his charges were directly related to the MLB scandal. Just a wild ride, honestly.

Fast forward to 2020, and pitcher Trevor Bauer stirred the pot by claiming that around 70 percent of pitchers were using Spider Tack, a sticky substance to help grip the ball. The league took notice and decided to crack down. By June 2021, they announced that any pitcher caught using illegal substances during games would be ejected and face a 10-game suspension. Talk about a game-changer!

And let’s not forget the drama surrounding Shohei Ohtani’s translator, who got fired last year after being accused of stealing millions from Ohtani to cover his gambling debts. A criminal complaint alleged that he was wiring money to someone known as “Associate 1.”

Months later, it turned out that “Associate 1” was actually Ryan Boyajian, who’s engaged to a star from Real Housewives of Orange County. But, as of now, he hasn’t faced any charges related to this whole mess. Just goes to show you, the world of baseball is never short on drama!