With Spring Training just around the corner, the White Sox are still tinkering at the edges of their roster - and while the big splashes may be behind them, there’s still value to be found in the margins. On Tuesday, they added a name that might not turn heads at first glance, but could quietly become a factor: veteran reliever Lucas Sims, signed to a minor league deal.
It’s a low-risk move with potential upside, and exactly the kind of flyer a team in transition should be taking. Sims brings a mix of major league experience, swing-and-miss stuff, and a track record that includes some legitimately strong stretches out of the bullpen. For a White Sox team still sorting out its relief corps, he’s a name worth watching as camp opens.
The Backstory: A Former First-Rounder with Strikeout Stuff
Sims, now 31, was a first-round pick by the Braves back in 2012, drafted out of high school with the kind of raw arm talent that front offices dream on. He made his MLB debut with Atlanta in 2017, starting 10 games and logging nearly 58 innings. The results were uneven - a 5.62 ERA - but the foundation was there: a fastball with life, a breaking ball that flashed bite, and the ability to miss bats.
After a brief stint with the Braves, Sims was dealt to the Reds in 2018. His early time in Cincinnati was rocky - a 7.00+ ERA in limited action - but by 2019, he began to find his footing.
Over 43 innings that season, he posted a 4.60 ERA and an impressive 1.163 WHIP, striking out 57 batters. That’s a 12.0 K/9 rate - the kind of number that jumps off the page for a reliever.
Peak Performance: 2020-2023
Sims’ best stretch came over the next few seasons, particularly during the shortened 2020 campaign. In 25 innings that year, he was lights out: a 2.45 ERA, 34 strikeouts, and the kind of late-inning presence that teams covet. He followed that up in 2021 with another solid showing - 47 innings, 76 strikeouts, and a 14.6 K/9 rate that put him among the game’s elite in missing bats.
Injuries limited his 2022, but Sims bounced back in 2023 with arguably his most complete season to date. Over 61 innings, he posted a 3.10 ERA, struck out 72, and was worth 1.9 WAR, per Baseball Reference - a strong number for a middle reliever. He was reliable, effective, and showed the kind of consistency that had eluded him earlier in his career.
The Recent Dip - and the Opportunity Ahead
The last two seasons, however, have been more of a rollercoaster. In 2024, Sims turned in a serviceable 4.38 ERA over 49.1 innings, but his command began to waver. He walked 30 batters and posted a 1.4 WHIP - signs that his control was starting to slip.
That trend worsened in 2025. In just 12 innings, Sims gave up 13 earned runs while walking 14 batters.
The strikeouts were still there - 13 in those 12 innings - but the free passes piled up, and his ERA ballooned to 13.00. It was a small sample size, but enough to raise questions about where his command had gone.
Still, the raw stuff remains intriguing. Sims ranks in the 94th percentile in fastball spin rate, and his sweeper - a nasty horizontal-breaking pitch - generates a 40% whiff rate.
That’s elite territory. If he can find the zone with more consistency, there’s real bullpen value here.
Why This Move Makes Sense for the White Sox
The White Sox aren’t in a position to turn down upside, especially in the bullpen. Relievers are notoriously volatile - one year you’re an All-Star, the next you’re searching for a minor league deal.
That’s the nature of the job. But that volatility also means opportunity, and Sims is exactly the kind of arm that could surprise in the spring.
He’s not being asked to carry the bullpen. He’s not guaranteed a roster spot.
But he brings swing-and-miss ability, big-league experience, and the potential to earn a role if he shows improved command in Arizona. For a team still looking to add depth and stability to its pitching staff, that’s a worthwhile gamble.
It’s a low-cost, high-upside play. If Sims finds his groove, the White Sox might just have uncovered a valuable piece for their bullpen puzzle.
And if not? Well, there’s little downside.
That’s the kind of smart, measured move that can pay off quietly - the kind that doesn’t make headlines in January, but might matter come June.