WEST PALM BEACH, FL - The Washington Nationals are looking to solidify their bullpen, and according to comments today from manager Dave Martinez, they've brought in a new arm to help. While the deal hasn't been officially announced, RHP Lucas Sims, who made his Nationals debut today at Spring Training and Martinez, is already outlining his expectations for the veteran reliever.

"We see him as a guy who can pitch in the back of the bullpen," Martinez said. "Riz [General Manager Mike Rizzo] is always looking to improve our team, feeling like he can fit in and help us in the backend there."

Sims, known for his high strikeout numbers but also his propensity for walks, presents an intriguing option for the Nationals. Martinez acknowledged Sims's strengths, highlighting his fastball, which reportedly reaches the mid-90s, and his effective slider. "He’s got a good fastball," Martinez commented. "I’ve been watching some videos of him over the wintertime, up to the mid-90s. Sliders are really effective."

However, Martinez also pointed to the areas where improvement is needed. "The biggest key is the walks," he stated. "We feel like we can help him; he can do that. He’s not afraid. I can tell you that right now, nothing phases him, and he will come at you, and the biggest key is getting them in the zone. He’s got good swing-and-miss stuff."

The Nationals coaching staff, including pitching coach Jim Hickey and Sean Doolittle, will be crucial in helping Sims refine his control. "We’ve helped a lot of guys do that," Martinez explained. "We like the stuff. The stuff is good and crisp, so [Jim] Hickey and [Sean Doolittle] are really going to help him understand the importance of throwing strike one."

Martinez emphasized that the process will involve careful observation and analysis. "Yeah, like I said, we're going to watch him first before we start, but we got a lot of information," he said. "You know, we'll dig into a lot of different things. A lot of times, the catcher, we're going to have the catchers help him." He also noted the importance of effectively utilizing Sims's ball movement, often in conjunction with catcher positioning. "His ball movement is good. A lot of times, it's based on where we want the catchers to sit to get him to throw the ball where he needs to throw it."

While Sims brings veteran experience, the Nationals are also evaluating a number of young arms competing for bullpen spots. Martinez outlined the key qualities he's looking for from these pitchers. "It’s about throwing strikes, getting ahead of hitters, quick outs, and controlling the running game," he said. "Those are the things that if I had to tell our young guys who pitch out the bullpen, it is not an easy gig. But you got to come in and throw strikes and work quickly."

He expressed excitement about the depth of options the team currently has. "We got quite a few of them that could potentially be really good at it," Martinez added. "Like I said before, what I am excited about is we got so many different options right now. I’ve seen a lot of guys from far, live BP that are throwing the ball really well. So I am really looking forward to just watching those guys compete in the game."

As for Sims's potential role, Martinez indicated he's being considered for high-leverage situations. "Yeah, we're talking about, you know, 7th, 8th, 9th, possibly," he said. "Like I said, it all depends on, you know, if he comes in and throws strikes." The coming weeks will be crucial for Sims as he works to refine his command and prove he can be a reliable presence in the Nationals' bullpen.