Triple-A pitcher Lucas Sims declared for free agency on Nov. 6, according to MLB.com. The former Lehigh Valley pitcher has made 263 career major league appearances. He was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies to a minor league contract and never pitched for the big league club,
The Philadelphia Phillies had a very successful season in 2025. Despite falling short of the World Series, they still had a great season.
Team executive Dave Dombrowski is busy at work putting the finishing touches on a team capable of competing for a title. There is enough horses in the stable that Dombrowski does not have to go shopping and overspend.
Philadelphia has plenty of top-flight players and are capable of going back to the World Series. They just need a few pieces which remain. They also need depth in the minor leagues that they can develop into superstars of tomorrow.
The team does have some key players in free agency. Re-signing Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto and Ranger Suárez are very important. However, they also need ro make sure they have enough talent stashed in the minors so they can be promoted as needed and as necessary.
One thing that teams cannot have enough of is quality pitching. Whether it is a starting pitcher or a reliever, pitchers do get injured. That is why there is such a tremendous need to stock reliable arms in the minor leagues.
It was learned that the Phillies lost a veteran arm to the open market when pitcher Lucas Sims elected free agency on Nov. 6, according to MLB.com.
Sims began the 2025 campaign with the Washington Nationals. However, he was released in May after having some dreadful appearances. The Phillies signed him to a minor league contract and assigned him to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, where he would spend the balance of the season.
Sims made 34 appearances in Triple-A, and posted a 5.56 ERA. He picked up seven holds and a save, but the season was far from respectable.
However, he is an arm that can be brought along. He will more than likely catch on with a new team once spring training rolls around.
The veteran has made appearances in 263 big league games. He spent seven years in the Cincinnati Reds organization, where he posted a 3.94 ERA in 210 big league games.
He had a solid season in 2023, posting a 3.10 ERA in 67 games. However, the Reds traded him to the Boston Red Sox last July. He struggled to find a home there and moved on. It looks like he will be on the move once again.