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By Peter Chawaga
Contributing Sports Writer
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The Philadelphia Phillies have been enjoying the early returns from a dramatic trade deadline move.
After acquiring shutdown closer Jhoan Duran from the Minnesota Twins last week, the Phillies have seen their new fireballer set the record for the hardest pitch ever thrown by one of their players. He has already earned two saves in two games and given up no hits.
But the Phillies might not have ever pursued Duran if they hadn't lost high-leverage reliever Jose Alvarado earlier in the season. Amid a strong campaign, Alvarado was suspended in May for violating Major League Baseball's performance-enhancing drug policy. His 80-game suspension will end in two weeks, but he will still be ineligible for the playoffs.
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Alvarado will rejoin the team at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday for the first time since his suspension was issued. And as the Phillies anticipate Alvarado's return to games for the end of the regular season, manager Rob Thomson indicated where he will fit into the new-look bullpen.
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"I think (Alvarado) helps," Thomson told reporters, according to Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer. "But I think they've done pretty well without him, to tell the truth. We've won a lot of games without him, but he certainly is going to bring more energy, and he's going to bring another really, really good arm."
With Duran now in the mix, Alvarado won't be utilized as a closer like he was before the suspension. Instead, he will join Matt Strahm and Orion Kerkering as high-leverage options in the earlier innings. Thomson told March that he expects to "ease" Alvarado back into leverage situations as he adjusts from batting practice to facing hitters in games again.
"He's not only a talent, but he brings so much energy to the field and the clubhouse," Thomson added on Alvarado, per March. "It's really good to have him around."
It won't be clear just what kind of role Alvarado can play for this team until he gets back into a live game situation. But if he can contribute and help keep the rest of the bullpen fresh for the playoffs, that will be a win after his suspension dealt a brutal loss.
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