Tommy Pham could be one of Dodgers’ targets as the team looks for a right-handed hitting outfielder, MLB.com’s Juan Toribio writes. The L.A. lineup is heavy on left-handed batters overall, and another righty bat might be needed in the outfield in particular with James Outman and Jason Heyward slated for the bulk of at-bats in center and right field. Chris Taylor and Manuel Margot (both righty swingers) will be in the mix for left field work and, in Margot’s case, more of a general backup role. Prospect Miguel Vargas will also get a look in left field, yet adding a more proven bat to this group would only enhance what is already a loaded Dodgers roster.
Pham has been on the Dodgers’ radar before, and would come at a lower cost than another rumored Los Angeles target in Teoscar Hernandez. Pham is coming off another productive season that saw him hit .256/.328/.446 with 16 homers over 481 combined plate appearances with the Mets and Diamondbacks, and he hit very well for Arizona in the NLDS and World Series.
More from the NL West…
- Top Giants prospect Kyle Harrison has been speculatively floated as a trade candidate, especially after reports surfaced last month that the club was considering dealing from its stock of young pitching. However, president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi all but officially closed the door on a Harrison swap, telling The Athletic’s Tim Kawakami in a podcast interview that “I can’t imagine any plausible scenario where we would move Kyle. He kind of embodies everything we’re hoping to be the next few years. He’s a local guy, he’s a homegrown talent, drafted and developed in our organization….Is a great kid, great competitor, has All-Star, Cy Young potential in our mind. Works really hard. Those are the kinds of guys you want to build around.”
- It appears as though Major League Baseball could be handling Rockies broadcasts next season, according to The Denver Post’s Patrick Saunders. An official announcement could come as early as this week, though it isn’t yet clear if the Rox or the league have found a local cable partner to carry games on actual television, as opposed to just online availability on MLB.tv. Colorado’s games used to be shown on the AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain regional sports network, though since that network is ceasing operations, the Rockies are in need of a new broadcasting partner for 2024 and beyond.
- The Diamondbacks are continuing to look for more hitting on both the trade and free agent markets, GM Mike Hazen told the Arizona Republic’s Nick Piecoro and other reporters. “My gut tells me it’s going to come via the free agent route, but we have had some active conversations about trades and now that we’re through the new year I’m curious to see if that dialogue picks up and if there’s more opportunity in the trade market, too,” Hazen said. The general manager reiterated that the team is open to either right-handed or left-handed hitter, as the Diamondbacks’ initial need for right-handed bats has now been addressed by re-signing Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and trading for Eugenio Suarez.
Yes.
Tommy Pham is the most replaceable, in demand player in baseball
With so much going for the Dodgers we’d have to hope for something better in LF than this year’s David Peralta, and that’s all Pham would be.
Please. No more Dodgers news. It makes most of us who are not their fanbase cry blue tears. But at least we are not Cardinal fans. That’s something.
How bout bad Dodger news?
I don’t want to wish ill will upon anyone, but sure.
The bad Dodger news usually comes in October (yuk,yuk,yuk! I’ll see myself out)
I don’t mind all the LAD news, it makes it sweeter when they get bounced in the NLDS.
Like the finest of wine when the big spenders get booted by the supposedly lesser teams.
Arizona was / is a lesser team. Yet they won in a short series. Good for them. That is the luck of baseball playoffs. The best teams rarely win it all.
Diamondbacks so far are the most improved team in baseball and that is scary with their young core.
Pfaadt I expect will start reaching his potential, add Rodriguez to their top heavy rotation and it could be one of the top rotations in baseball.
With another bat, I could easily see the Snakes taking the division. Dodgers can hit but their rotation is full of question marks and poor health.
drasco: I thought Pfaady showed his potential in last season’s PO. As for that one more bat, I really hope it’s Martinez. If not, then Turner. That should get under the skin of the Dodgers
Imagine if you were a Cub fan and how miserable that would be
Mobits, what are you talking about?
What is Pham projected to get?
If the Dodgers are looking for a righty outfielder, Cashman has got a former NL MVP he’ll let go cheap.
J.D. Martinez makes a ton of sense for the Diamondbacks, even after re-signing Gurriel.
Andy Pages hits right handed.
Not proven though. He’s always a fall back but coming off injury. May get a call up this season but may be a year away from meaningful contribution. Pham is the ideal cheaper guy but you worry about his off field stuff and potential impact to clubhouse.
Kyle Harrison off the table is a deal breaker for Dylan Cease. Luciano and Whisenhunt ain’t enough. Reggie Crawford doesn’t move the needle for me. Giants sitting out the Playoffs again!
Disagree. Giants could swing a deal for Cease without Harrison.
Who would you send from SF to Chicago? I’m not too familiar with the SF farm, but I know Chicago is asking a lot for Cease, they wanted 3 top 100 prospects from the Reds and I believe they may have asked for Bobby Miller as just part of a potential return from the Dodgers.
What they’ve asked for and what they can get are two different things. Unless they lower the price, Cease will pitch for the WSox this year.
And Kyle Harrison a Cy Young pitcher? I don’t think so….
And how would you know? He has great stuff and flashed it on his home opener. If he replicates that type of performance year round he’s all day cy young caliber
Well, I have seen him pitch. His fastball is very good and will K batters. But IMHO to be a Cy Young you have to have much better control of your secondaries. So sure, IF he learns to control his secondaries, he COULD be a Cy Young, or as Zaida says, Cy Young potential. He’s a long way from being Cy Young. A good pitcher, but not the best in the league.
You do know how young that kid is right? All am saying is with his potential he could be a cy young caliber player. Shoot I’d take another Webb caliber pitcher out of him.
Yes I do, watched him in college also. I just see him (now) as a power arm with a great fastball, but his finesse is missing. Webb is a great pitcher I like better than Harrison. He has control of sinker, slider, changeup. Two completely different pitchers, I’d take Webb as a Cy Young possibility over Harrison. Because he can spot 3 pitches.
Kyle was lured away from college and went straight into pro ball. That’s what makes him so unique and valuable, even as a #2 starter is his age on top of his production, and development at so young is why people are high on him. This kid could be lights out. So you couldn’t of watched him in college.
Harrison is the top ranked left-handed pitching prospect in baseball. But, yeah, he has no chance of ever winning a CY. Really?
His minor league stats are Ryan-esque.
That’s cute, White Sox fan thinks they have BlackJack McDowell on the market. You think you can get the top 3-4 prospects for Cease? Nah
The Reds just laughed when they wanted their prospects for Cease.
Trading Harrison for a couple of years of Dylan Cease is about the dumbest move I can think of. Cease has had one great year in 22 but his ERA went up by over 2 runs last year. 2023 ERA for Cease 4.58. Harrison’s was 4.15. Good chance Harrison has a better year than Cease.
JB
“Trading Harrison for a couple of years of Dylan Cease is about the dumbest move I can think of. Cease has had one great year in 22 but his ERA went up by over 2 runs last year. 2023 ERA for Cease 4.58. Harrison’s was 4.15. Good chance Harrison has a better year than Cease”
Pitcher FIP, xFIP, SIERRA, xERA
Harrison 5.53, 5.01, 4.45, 4.43
Cease 3.72, 4.08, 4.10, 4.07
FanGraphs projections
Harrison 4.14 ERA, 4.32
Cease 4.12 ERA, 4.30 FIP
Harrison is a young pitcher, and they tend to struggle a bit out of the gate. In his first partial season (7 GS), he had an ERA+ of 102. Cease in his first partial season (14 GS) had an ERA+ of 79. Their Fangraphs projections are virtually the same, but Cease has 2 years of control and Harrison has 6. So @John Bird is correct that trading Harrison for Cease would be dumb.
JM
“So @John Bird is correct that trading Harrison for Cease would be dumb.”
I didn’t comment on that.
I was surprised that the projections were basically equal
Sorry I misinterpreted. Since you included that phrase in what you quoted, I incorrectly assumed you disagreed.
The White Sox ain’t getting Kyle Harrison for Cease. But hey, you can’t blame ’em for asking.
Dodgers should try and get Skubal from the Tigers. They could use a young inexpensive lefty in the rotation.
Yamamoto, Glasnow, Buehler, Kershaw and Skubal would be a pretty good rotation.
Let us look at the “potential” starters for the Blue Boys:
Yamamoto: Never pitched an inning in MLB. Hope he does well?
Glasnow: Can barely complete a year of MLB rotation work/injury?
Buehler: Can barely complete a year of MLB rotation work/injury?
Kershaw: Always a stud and the Captain, but good for only 20-25 starts?
The Dodgers need to be seriously concerned with what they have in the rotation. Yes, There is great potential and track records of success, but there is so much injury, inexperience and aging blended all together that it could turn out really bad.
They may want to hold onto any prospects for midsummer trades if 2 0r 3 of these guys are brokendown.
You left out Bobby Miller.
Can’t imagine Skubal is going anywhere.
Also, there are far too many free agent pitchers available to the Dodgers for them to trade so many of their best prospects to get Skubal
Cb
“Also, there are far too many free agent pitchers available to the Dodgers for them to trade so many of their best prospects to get Skubal”
None of the free agent pitchers are as young and cheap as Skubal, though
“Can’t imagine Skubal is going anywhere”
Me either
It would cost them a ton. At least as much as Cease if not more. Hopefully the Tigers would not do it unless they get an offer that absuolutely blows them away. Omething stupid like Vargas, Cartaya, Miller.
Will “Fresh Prince” Smith thinks Tommy Pham is a Punk!
Rockies have a RH hitter named Bryant they’d be glad to give the Dodgers for a decent prospect. But knowing the Rockies they’d insist on also giving the Dodgers $50M.
It would take at least $50M to get any team to take Bryant.
I would really like to dream of maybe the D’backs shocking the baseball world like they did when they signed Zack Greinke a few years ago, nobody expected that. It was the talk of the league. So, I may be dreaming but here it is the D’backs owner opens the purse a little wider and sign you ready for it????
How about Cody Bellinger, he does have close ties to AZ, born and raised and has family here, he really enjoys hitting at Chase Field and has strong stats to prove it.
Hazen could have him in CF, and also backup Walker at first, plus DH.
It would satisfy my off season from here on out, it is just a dream, but dreams do come true sometimes.
I usually root for another NL team, but I love watching your team play. Reminds me of my team. Aggressive baserunners, gap power, fun to watch. I wish your team the best.
Hope the dream comes true. I could see them getting Bellinger or maybe Soler to add some pop.
Zack Greinke’s available again.
Greinke back to the Halo’s!
IF (and I don’t think they will, but), the Dbacks make a major Free Agent signing this off-season, would you rather have:
1) Bellinger
2) Closer Josh Hader
3). DH J.D. Martinez
4). DH/LF Jorge Soler
5). Starting Pitcher
JD Martinez makes the most sense for the Snakes (also makes sense for several other teams).
Hader I would pass on and grab Hicks and Robert’s for a similar AAV with significantly less years involved.
Would take Bellinger but that is a long shot, more realistic though is JD Martinez. Hader not even being thought about..
Diamondbacks: most underrated stadium in all of sports.
I laughed when another poster has said “Please. No more Dodgers news.”
If I were a Dodgers fan right now I think I would be one half excitement/one half dread. The Dodgers are going to be the absolute clear favorite choice by almost every baseball analyst and pundit that has a speaking voice anywhere. I say almost because there will be SOMEONE who descents from the pack but far and away the Dodgers will be expected to win.
I know this because I’m a Braves fan and the Braves were largely expected to win it all but here come the Phillies just big brothering all over my guys. That was really difficult to watch. I didn’t read or watch anything baseball for weeks.
This could happen to the Dodgers too and historically the odds are it will. The winningest team has only won the world series 12 times since 1969.
I was that sucker who said no more dodger news. Don’t take much of what I say seriously.
But, I also posted that the Dodgers need to be worried about that rotation. Sure it has some great talent but if you look at the rotation piece by piece, the top 4 are maybe good for 100 starts, maybe 110. Who else will be pitching for them that are at the same level as those 4? They have way too much injury pasts plus one guy who has never even pitched in the MLB.
SCM
“If I were a Dodgers fan right now I think I would be one half excitement/one half dread.”
I don’t get why “dread”.
The last ten years have been awesome. In contention every season. In the playoffs every season. Awesome players. Fun players. Interesting moves in the offseason and at the deadline.
And, the team looks as well set up for the next 10 as anybody.
Baseball is entertainment. And Dodger baseball has been extremely entertaining for the last decade.
Baseball IS NOT personal validation. I don’t derive self worth from ringz. That seems pretty pathetic
@filihok, well freaking said man! You must be over 40 LOL
I AM A BIG DODGER FAN, but love all of baseball because it’s so entertaining!
Of course it hurts when we get swept by dbags and past disappointing post seasons but we move on!
Fun time to be a DODGER fan,
thank you.
@running. I didnt take that too serious. I just thought it was funny.
I wouldn’t be to concerned about the Dodgers rotation just yet. Miller had 24 starts last year but it was his first season in the majors. Still, I think you are going with the safer bet only expecting 20 starts because who the hell knows. Young arms that haven’t had TJ should always be at least a little suspect these days. Yamamoto should be able to give a full season. Same expectation for Gonso as Miller. If the Dodgers get 20 starts from Beuhler, Dodger fans should count their blessings. The Dodgers should HOPE Bush doesnt get 20 starts if he can’t do better than last season but they didn’t use him that way last season. Dustin May just might spontaneously cumbust if he even steps into the club house. The Dodgers can also fall back on players like Stone and Frasso who are highly regarded prospects. Lastly, I expect the Dodgers are going to be fine because there is still Snell, Montgomery and Stroman out there with a still significant amount of mid and back end rotation arms.
@filihok. I mean I was just being a little hyperbolic when I used the word dread. The expectation is sky high and anything short of a world series win is going to be received as falling short. You can still enjoy a season whether your team fell short or not. I wasn’t bringing that into question let alone the last decade. That was a bit out of the scope of my post.
“Baseball IS NOT personal validation. I don’t derive self worth from ringz. That seems pretty pathetic”
Damn. I mean again, I think you are taking my post a tad seriously. Don’t go call me a therapist or anything. I haven’t seen to many Dodger fans jumping from tall buildings or anything but hey, from the sounds of it you’re ready to be a life coach. =D
@blue. “Of course it hurts when we get swept by dbags and past disappointing post seasons but we move on! Fun time to be a DODGER fan,
thank you.”
This is what I’m talking about. The weight of expectation leading to disappointment because more was expected. I mean damn, you guys think I was talking about fans sitting wrists or something?
Sigh..I very much wish for further spell correct options beyond a handful of minutes.
Dear Santa ,
Since I didn’t get my bicycle, I need JDM in a Diamondbacks uniform again this spring. Please and Thanks
Loyal fan , you know who this is.
Pham and Dodgers is a match made in heaven
NO THANK YOU
Soler? Yessssss
You having fun?
I could do without all the comments about Pham that come off as racially charged.
Just ignore or mute them. There will always be folks like them in this community.
Just tired of the racist stuff. Every time someone mentions Pham or Tim Anderson or Jazz Chisholm half the comments are weird and racist.
I know what you mean. The comments range from thinly-veiled to blatant. Nothing you say will change their minds.
I am not trying to change the world here man. I just wish the moderators paid more attention to this sort of stuff because there is a clear pattern.
Anyways I got other stuff going on and it’s been a long day so trying not to take it out on anyone else. You seem like a good guy I will keep an eye out for your posts thank you.
And Marcus Stroman. I swear any post with a black player or mention of San Francisco should have the comments shut off because it eventually turns political.
Pham and Pederson on same team please. They could recreate the Cheers episode where Sam and Diane slap each other multiple times.
Or that Monty Python skit with the fish
Dodgers to sign the rest of the MLB free agents available. MLB to instate a provision that will allow the Dodgers specifically to expand their roster significantly.
I suspect Farhan is trying to get Robert and Cease from WS. That would require Harrison and more….
I would not oppose..Harrison, Bart, Ramos and call it a day
I don’t think the Giants have the horses to get Cease and Robert.
If the Giants can get anything decent for Harrison its a must to trade him. Look at Bart. He could have got a decent player in return a couple of years ago but they held on to him and he is a complete bust. Harrison will likely be a bust as well.
Don’t sell Harrison so short. Remember Logan Webb’s debut? In about 40 innings, he finished with an ERA north of 5. Today, he’s an ace, and one of the few young guys on the club to build around. We don’t know yet what Harrison will be, but he isn’t the #1 ranked lefty prospect in MLB just for a goof.
“Harrison will likely be a bust as well”
Based on what exactly? He’s excelled at every level he’s been at so far…
Wow that really triggered you lol
Good to know you can’t actually back up your statement with anything other than “triggered” lol
No it didn’t. He just wanted clarification. So do I.
What makes you think he will be a bust ?
“Back up my statement” lol. Ooh good one. No you just seem like one of those fan boys and you got all upset that I called your favorite player a potential bust. It triggered you even though it has nothing to do with you personally but your feelings still got hurt. It was funny. He looked way overmatched in the show and if you know anything about baseball, you would know that the mlb pipeline rankings are mostly wrong. Top prospects end up as busts way more than they live up to the hype. Look at Bart, Luciano, Ramos & Matos. All busts. Sure, you get the occasional Zach Wheeler who you deal away and he ends up great, but thats extremely rare. As is Logan Webb. Its called selling high. You sell Harrison now and get a big league veteran bat and its literally a coin toss if Harrison becomes Zach Wheeler or he becomes Tyler Beede.
I don’t think Bart is a good comparison. We found out he was a bust after being in the league for like 3 years. Harrison hasn’t appeared more then 10 times.
I’m just being pessimistic being I am a Giants fan. But sure, give me Webb, Imanaga or Snell, Ray, Cobb, Stripling, and who knows, maybe Harrison becomes Mad Bum 2.0. That’s a very solid staff potentially.
I’ll easily take that rotation, especially if they sign Snell..I gotta sign a power bat since Haniger is gone..
I almost like Imanaga better than Snell now. Doesn’t Snell want like 10 years? Looks like we could get Imanaga for $100 for 5 years. Better deal. Maybe even reup Junis and have Webb, Imanaga, Stripling, Junis/Harrison/Hjelle/Beck/Winn. Then Cobb and Ray later.
Snell for that price is definitely a pass..don’t know anything about Imanaga and not sure he’ll end up any good
The most success the Giants have had in my lifetime was when they brought up the draft picks. They never win a WS without Cain, Bumgarner, Posey, Crawford, Panic, Lincecum, Romo, the Panda (signed he was not in the drafted), and even Belt. They need to stop chasing overpriced free agents and let these young guys play.
Can’t wait to see Kyle grow, really excited what he can do for us in the future. He’s only got three pitches so I wonder if that’ll change to four soon…
Joc P To Az
The Dodgers could really use a right-handed batterer like Tommy Pham.