Trying to find their footing after a slow start to the month of May, the Boston Red Sox picked up a series-opening win against the Mets on Monday night. In a promising performance from the pitching staff, Boston held the Mets scoreless after the third inning in a dominant outing from Hunter Dobbins and the bullpen.
As the Red Sox try to climb above .500 and back into the AL East race, other major news hit the baseball world over the weekend, involving the Philadelphia Phillies and their closer, Jose Alvarado.
On Sunday, it was reported that Jose Alvarado was suspended for 80 games for violating MLB's PED policy. The lefty had taken on closing duties for the Phillies, recording a 2.70 ERA, 7 saves, and 25 strikeouts in 20 appearances this season.
It is a tough blow to the Phillies' bullpen, as they will be without their closer for 80 games, and Alvarado won't be eligible to pitch in the postseason if the Phillies qualify. They are in a crowded NL East division with the Mets and Braves, and pitching help is ever so needed in what should be a tight race through October.
In a corresponding move, the Phillies signed a former Red Sox reliever to a minor-league contract in the wake of the Alvarado news.
Phillies Sign Lucas Sims After Alvarado Suspension
Phillies beat writer Matt Gelb reported the news on Tuesday afternoon. Sims finds a new home just 11 days after being DFA'd by the Washington Nationals on May 9th.
Sims, 31, made 15 appearances for the Red Sox last season after being acquired from the Reds at the late-July trade deadline.
In a move that was made to bolster the bullpen, Sims did very little to help the Red Sox's cause. He pitched to a 6.43 ERA with 10 earned runs in 14 total innings of work. After struggling with the Red Sox, Sims signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the Nationals in free agency.
He struggled even more in Washington, posting a 13.86 ERA with 19 earned runs over just 12.1 innings in the nation's capital. The Nationals had seen enough and released Sims. He will try to bounce back for the Phillies, his fourth team in under a year.
Sims was most known for his time as a Cincinnati Red from 2018-2024, where he recorded a 3.94 ERA, 290 strikeouts, and 12 saves over a seven-year span. He's seen little success since being acquired by the Red Sox, who have bullpen issues of their own.
The Phillies will have to find their new closer from within, as the team will lean on Matt Strahm (former Red Sox), Jordan Romano, and Orion Kerkering moving forward.
Sims joins Christian Arroyo as a former Red Sox, now with the Phillies, as the former will look to carve out a role in a bullpen that is desperate for help without their closer.
The Red Sox and their fans could be getting their first look at Sims in a Phillies uniform when the two teams match up from July 21-23 at Citizens Bank Park.