Red Sox acquire Reds reliever, trade young pitching prospect
The Red Sox added much-needed help to the back-end of the bullpen by acquiring Reds right-handed reliever Lucas Simas for minor league hurler Ovis Portes.
Boston designated injured left-hander Brandon Walter for assignment to make room for Sims on the 40-man roster.
Sims owns a 3.57 ERA with a 1.42 WHIP and has 40 strikeouts to 20 walks in 35 1/3 innings this season.
The 30-year-old will give skipper Alex Cora another option in the mid-to-late innings. Boston is awaiting the returns of both Justin Slaten and Chris Martin, both of whom will also help in the later innings for the Red Sox.
“I’m a little sad but also very excited to join such a storied franchise like Boston and go there and help them win ballgames and try to win a ring,” Sims told MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon. “I’m going to miss a lot of people here.”
Sims will get an opportunity to play in meaningful games as the summer rolls on and possibly in October if the Red Sox are able to make the postseason. The new righty did admit he shed a few tears once he learned of the trade to the Red Sox.
“With the sad, comes the excitement. It’s nice to feel wanted. Another organization wants you and thinks I can come and help them win a ring,” Sims said. “With that being said, I’m very excited about this opportunity and meeting a bunch of new teammates. It’s a very storied franchise, a great city. I get to go play at Fenway Park; it’s kind of one of my favorite places to play. I get to call that home for the next two months or so, and hopefully through October.
“With the tears, I get on a flight tonight, and I’m very excited to join them and go pitch for those guys.”
Portes went 2-1 this season with a 2.11 ERA in 11 games (five starts) with two saves and 41 strikeouts in 34 innings. The 19-year-old is in his second professional season after he was signed for $25,000 as an international free agent out of St. John's, Antigua, and Barbuda in 2022.
The 6-foot-4, 167-pound right-hander throws 95-98 mph and can max at 99 mph. He also has a slider and changeup, but both are inconsistent, according to the Reds new scouting reports.
