The Philadelphia Phillies once again came up short of their ultimate goal last season, failing to return to the World Series for the first time since their 2022 run. Despite boasting a roster loaded with high-end talent and carrying the potential to make another deep postseason push, the organization enters the offseason with several crucial decisions to make. A number of core players are hitting free agency, and while keeping Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto, and Ranger Suárez in Philadelphia is viewed as the top priority, the front office also faces the broader challenge of reinforcing organizational depth, particularly in the minors.
Over the course of a long MLB season, teams churn through a significant number of pitchers, making dependable minor-league options essential for navigating injuries, slumps, and inevitable roster shuffling. The Phillies saw one of their veteran depth pieces hit the open market when Lucas Sims elected free agency on Nov. 6, according to his transaction log on MLB.com. Sims opened the year with the Washington Nationals, but a rough outing in May led to his release. Philadelphia brought him in soon after on a minor-league deal, assigning him to Triple-A Lehigh Valley for the remainder of the season.
Across 34 Triple-A appearances, Sims turned in a 5.56 ERA. He still managed to record seven holds and one save, but overall the year was far from his best. Even so, he remains a seasoned arm who should be able to latch on with another club. Over the course of his career, Sims has pitched in 263 major-league games, including seven seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, where he logged a 3.94 ERA in 210 outings. As recently as 2023, he delivered a strong performance, posting a 3.10 ERA in 67 games. However, his production has dipped since the Reds dealt him to the Boston Red Sox in July of last year, and he has struggled to regain consistency since that trade.
Although Sims’ departure may not draw major headlines, it underscores Philadelphia’s need to replenish and stabilize its pitching depth beyond the big-league roster—an area that often proves vital over the grueling course of a full season.