With top left-handed reliever José Alvarado serving an 80-game suspension for PED use, the Philadelphia Phillies are urgently searching for bullpen reinforcements. Just two days after the suspension was announced, the team made its first move.
According to Matt Gelb of The Athletic, the Phillies signed veteran right-hander Lucas Sims to a minor league deal (subscription required).
While fans are eager for the front office to pursue a high-leverage reliever as the trade deadline approaches, MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki notes that depth additions like this are more realistic at this early stage—over two months out from the July 31 deadline.
Still, this signing suggests that president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski is beginning to test out low-risk options in hopes of finding someone who can contribute.
Phillies Begin Bullpen Overhaul with Minor League Signing of Former Braves First-Rounder Lucas Sims
Sims, once a top prospect and first-round pick by the Braves in 2012, was ranked Atlanta’s No. 1 prospect by MLB Pipeline in 2014 and remained a top-five talent in their system for several years. He eventually found some success in Cincinnati, where he had a solid run in the Reds’ bullpen, including a strong 2023 season with a 3.10 ERA and 76 strikeouts over 61 innings in 67 appearances.
However, after signing a $3 million contract with the Washington Nationals in February, Sims struggled early in 2024, posting a 13.86 ERA, 2.27 WHIP, and seven wild pitches over 12 1/3 innings. He was released on May 10.
Sims, who debuted in the majors in 2017, owns a career 4.86 ERA with 366 strikeouts across 318 1/3 innings. While his strikeout rate stands at a respectable 26.5%, his command has been inconsistent, as evidenced by a 12.5% walk rate.
Gelb reported that Sims will report to the Phillies’ pitching lab in Florida. Notably, he previously worked with current Phillies pitching coach Caleb Cotham during their shared time in Cincinnati (2019–2020). Sims features a 95 mph four-seam fastball and an 85 mph sweeper as his primary pitches, occasionally mixing in a curveball, sinker, cutter, and slider.
What Sims becomes under the Phillies’ pitching development program remains uncertain. But it’s clear that Dombrowski and GM Preston Mattingly are far from done in their search for bullpen upgrades.