Alvarado is unlikely to be used as a traditional closer by the Rays in 2019, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.
Manager Kevin Cash doesn't plan to officially name a closer this season, but Alvarado is a likely candidate to see ninth-inning opportunities depending on game flow and matchup. Given the Rays' utilization of the opener strategy, it comes as little surprise they plan to eschew traditional late-inning roles as well. Alvarado is expected to see minimal work this spring after a career-high 64 innings during 2018. Regardless of his official title, the 23-year-old lefty's 2.39 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 11.2 K/9 last season should still provide plenty of fantasy value as Tampa Bay's likeliest option for high-leverage work.