With the bullpen beginning to show serious signs of wear — and postseason ambitions still firmly in view — the Texas Rangers have made their first under-the-radar move in what could become a long summer of scrambling for reliable arms.
On Tuesday, the Rangers signed veteran right-handed reliever Lucas Sims to a minor league contract, bringing a once-promising former first-round pick into the fold in hopes that their development staff can extract value where others could not.
Sims, 31, was last seen struggling mightily with the Washington Nationals, where he posted an eye-popping 13.86 ERA in just over 12 innings. His control completely unraveled — allowing 12 walks, 13 strikeouts, and a jaw-dropping seven wild pitches — leading to his release earlier this month, just three months after signing a $3 million deal.
But the Rangers aren’t looking for perfection right now. They’re looking for potential.
Once regarded as the No. 1 prospect in the Atlanta Braves organization and a core bullpen piece during his best years with the Cincinnati Reds, Sims brings with him both high-level experience and a history of electric stuff — including a four-seam fastball touching 95 mph and a signature sweeper that once baffled hitters league-wide.
His best season came in 2023 with Cincinnati, where he appeared in 67 games, logging a solid 3.10 ERA with 76 strikeouts in 61 innings. That version of Sims is exactly who Texas hopes to uncover again.
“There’s upside in guys who’ve been through adversity,” one Rangers front office source said. “If we get him right, we’ll have something others gave up on.”
Sims is expected to report to the Rangers’ developmental complex in Surprise, Arizona, where he’ll work closely with the club’s analytics and biomechanics staff to rebuild his command and regain his edge. There’s no timeline yet for a major league call-up, but insiders say the Rangers are “seriously optimistic” that he could contribute by mid-summer if progress is made quickly.
Texas currently ranks in the bottom third of the American League in bullpen ERA and has seen inconsistencies from both left and right-handed options late in games. With no clear trade deadline targets yet available and the stakes rising fast, the Rangers are wisely scanning every corner of the market.
Sims, whose career 4.86 ERA comes with a noteworthy 26.5% strikeout rate, fits the profile of a high-risk, high-reward flyer. He joins a list of recent bullpen reclamation projects that includes both younger arms and veteran journeymen — part of GM Chris Young’s aggressive strategy to reinforce a relief unit that was taxed heavily during last year’s postseason run.
Whether Sims becomes a bullpen regular or fades as another forgotten experiment, one thing is clear: the Rangers aren’t standing still — and they’re not afraid to dig deep.
