Phillies Sign Former Braves, Reds Reliever Amid Urgent Bullpen Scramble
With José Alvarado sidelined by an 80-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs, the Philadelphia Phillies have kicked off a frantic search for bullpen reinforcements. Just two days after the suspension was announced, the team made its first move, signing veteran reliever Lucas Sims to a minor league deal, according to Matt Gelb of The Athletic.
Sims, a former first-round pick by the Braves in 2012 and once Atlanta’s top prospect, showed promise in Cincinnati, including a solid 2023 season with a 3.10 ERA and 76 strikeouts over 61 innings. However, his 2024 stint with the Nationals was disastrous—he posted a 13.86 ERA and 2.27 WHIP before being released on May 10.
Despite his recent struggles, the Phillies hope Sims can rediscover his form with help from their pitching lab in Florida. The 31-year-old has a career strikeout rate of 26.5%, but control has been a recurring issue with a 12.5% walk rate.
Sims’ familiarity with Phillies pitching coach Caleb Cotham—who worked with him in Cincinnati—could help in his potential turnaround. He features a 95 mph four-seamer and an 85 mph sweeper, along with a mix of secondary pitches.
While fans may be hoping for a big-name acquisition, MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki suggests the team is more likely to make low-risk depth moves for now, with the trade deadline still over two months away. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski appears willing to experiment in the meantime, hoping to patch the bullpen while bigger solutions are explored.
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