BOSTON — The Red Sox added four arms before Tuesday’s MLB trade deadline, including Lucas Sims. The former Cincinnati Reds reliever intends to make an impact amid the team’s playoff-chasing second half of the season.
“Ultimately, I’m just gonna lay it all out there,” Sims said Wednesday upon arriving at the team’s clubhouse at Fenway Park. “Every time I take the field, I give it all I got. I put every ounce of energy into going out there and getting as many outs as I can and giving us a chance to win. That’s probably just the gist of it.”
Sims added: “Very excited to come here (to a) storied franchise. This club’s playing really good ball and I’m coming here to help us win ball games.”
Since returning from the All-Star break, Boston’s struggled mightily with turning to its bullpen. Relief pitchers surrendered 12 runs in three games this past weekend against the New York Yankees, and the Red Sox have aggressively shuffled its available arms around in search of reliability. Boston gave Trey Wingenter and Yohan Ramirez opportunities to perform while hosting the Seattle Mariners, but both right-handers logged subpar performances respectively, prompting the team to designate both right-handers for assignment immediately after.
Sims, 30, could help alleviate that ongoing pressure by helping re-stabilize Boston’s bullpen. The right-hander made 43 appearances with Cincinnati this season before getting traded, recording a 3.57 ERA in 35 1/3 innings pitched. Sims held left-handed hitters to a .217 batting average and logged a 2.25 ERA in July (10 games). As the Red Sox await the much-needed returns of fellow relief pitchers Chris Martin and Justin Slaten — who both landed on the injured list with right elbow inflammation — Sims could play a key role in helping the franchise turn the page.
“We’re going to be playing some meaningful baseball here in the next two months, with a real shot at winning a ring. That’s what we expect,” Sims said. “All my understanding is that’s the expectations of this city and this fanbase and I’m here for it. I’m ready, we’ve been meeting all the guys and I’m fired up to join them.”
