The Philadelphia Phillies have been actively searching for answers after José Alvarado was suspended for violating the league's banned substance list. One consistently speculated target was David Robertson, who remains a free agent and spent two previous seasons with the organization. However, it isn't the Robertson that was Philly's first move to fix the bullpen concerns.
Lucas Sims has been signed to a minor league contract as the Phillies evaluate all options. If Sims is a familiar name to Philly fans, it might be because of where the veteran reliever got his start.
Sims is a former Atlanta Braves prospect who made his debut with the hated rival. Since leaving Atlanta, Sims has spent time with the Cincinnati Reds, Boston Red Sox, and Washington Nationals. The veteran has consistently struggled with three outlier seasons being his sole productive seasons. Philly is hoping Sims can discover this form and become a surprise contributor to the bullpen.
Philly Signing Lucas Sims Doesn't Rule out the Team Making Future Splashier Additions
The Phillies' signing of Sims far from rules out a potential reunion with David Robertson or more impactful additions. Signing the veteran reliever is simply Philly doing exactly what the organization should be: exploring every possible path to discover any surprise contributors.
Alvarado's selfish decision created a notable void that the Phillies are going to have to either fill in a lucky pickup or, more likely spend meaningful assets to replace. A loyal Philly fanbase isn't going to forgive this indiscretion easily, understanding what it means for the organization moving forward, impacting the postseason race.
For Sims, this is an opportunity to end the recent slide and find a surprise contributing spot in a shaky pen. This is going to require the veteran to prove himself in the minor leagues and put together a string of consistent outings. There simply isn't anything on the veteran's recent resume that suggests any level of predictability that qualifies him for the active roster.
With this in mind, it wouldn't be at all surprising to see the Phillies continue to add to the bullpen throughout the week. The team hopes to find a surprise answer to a problem that Alvarado has created.