The Boston Red Sox, desperate for experienced relief help, acquired Cincinnati Reds veteran reliever Lucas Sims on Tuesday. In return, Cincinnati received Ovis Porter, a minor league pitcher who has reached High-A this year.
For a lot of this season, Chris Martin and Justin Slaten have served to set up closer Kenley Jansen, but both right-handers landed on the injured list. Since the All-Star break, the Red Sox bullpen has been heavily used -- through series against the Dodgers, in Colorado and against the Yankees. A team source confirmed that Sims will be used in high-leverage situations for now, as the Red Sox await the return of Martin and Slaten.
Sims, 30, has a 3.57 ERA in 43 games and over the course of his career with the Braves and Reds, he has pitched 230 games, with all but 14 of them out of the bullpen. This year, Sims has been almost equally effective against left-handed and right-handed batters, holding lefties to a .697 OPS and righties to a .765. Over this last 19 appearances he has a 2.25 ERA.
The Red Sox have been more aggressive this season at the trade deadline than in past years, adding starting pitcher James Paxton, catcher Danny Jansen and now Sims. One source within the organization says there is more of a focus on winning this year than in recent seasons as the team fostered a growing farm system.