The Boston Red Sox acquired reliever Lucas Sims from the Cincinnati Reds for minor-league pitcher Ovis Portes, the team announced Tuesday.
Sims is in the midst of a second consecutive strong season. The 30-year-old posted a 3.57 ERA and 1.42 WHIP with 30 strikeouts across 35 1/3 innings out of the Reds' bullpen.
Control remains a challenge for Sims: The righty ranks fifth percentile in walk rate and owns a 5.1 BB/9 this season. He's excelled at limiting hard contact, however, ranking in the 95th percentile for average exit velocity.
Sims, set for free agency at season's end, should add some swing-and-miss to a Boston bullpen that entered Tuesday ranked 20th in K/9.
Portes was the No. 29-ranked prospect in Boston's system on Baseball America's midseason rankings. The 19-year-old has pitched to a 3.43 ERA in 21 innings at Single-A this season.
