According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Padres are “in talks” with free agent Tommy Pham and “could be moving closer” to an agreement. It would be a one-year contract in the $3MM to $4MM range. Nightengale also reports that the White Sox are interested in the veteran outfielder if his negotiations with the Padres fall through.
Pham has been linked to San Diego through several recent reports. Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune wrote that the team remained “engaged in conversations” with Pham earlier this week, while Jon Heyman of the New York Post noted the Padres were “among teams eying Tommy Pham.” Other outfielders linked to the Padres, namely Adam Duvall and Michael A. Taylor, have now signed elsewhere, while other teams linked to Pham, such as the Diamondbacks and Pirates, have gone in a different direction.
The fit for Pham in San Diego is clear. Jurickson Profar is currently slated to get most of the playing time in left field. The Padres are surely hoping Profar bounces back from his career-worst season in 2023, but it would be nice for manager Mike Shildt to have another option if that doesn’t happen. The team will also need a designated hitter once Manny Machado is ready to return to third base; Pham played 44 games at DH last year for the Mets and D-backs.
Pham previously played for San Diego in 2020 and ’21, and Annie Heilbrunn of the San Diego Union-Tribune reported earlier this offseason that he would be open to a reunion.
As for the White Sox, they should be set in left field and at DH with Andrew Benintendi and Eloy Jiménez, respectively. However, the left-handed rookie Dominic Fletcher could use a platoon partner in right field, and Chicago could use a right-handed bat for the bench. Presumably, Pham is looking to be more than a bench bat and the short side of a platoon; he said as much earlier this winter. Yet, at this point in the offseason, he may have to settle for a limited role, especially if he wants to get in some spring training games before the regular season begins. What’s more, if he plays well for the White Sox, he can earn more playing time, and he can expect to be dealt to a contender before the trade deadline.
Pads will be Pham-ily again. Not all that surprised with their collection of characters.
Tommy Pham and Joc Pederson stay in the NL West if this goes through. Destined to clash forever!
I was rooting for them to be on the same team, hopefully platooning.
Is it wrong to have hoped to see those two on the Diamondbacks this year?
only in that we try here not to wish injury upon anyone.
No, no injury just some really awkward moments in the locker room is all I wanted.
There are videos of awkward moments in the dugout everywhere Pham has played. Don’t need Joc and Pham in the same dugout to have that.
Across, could make for some fun theater and I gotta admit that I’m here for it lol.
“Strip Club Tommy” is back baby! Ahahaha!
Please no
He’s 36, with just 3 WAR in last 4 years combined. They can get better from Profar/Azocar/Pauley and pocket the $ for in-season moves
If they aren’t spending in the offseason, no guarantee in season.
Pham fits a need.
In the very least pushes Azocar down to an OF utility role where he fits best.
Pauley gets a little more time in AAA for a mid season call up or makes the team off the bench.
OF is Pham/Merrill/Tatis which is pretty formidable.
Veterans are a necessity.
“veterans are a necessity” – sure a guy that can’t see, mental case, and hasn’t produced worth a crap in past 3 years – let’s just improve the team by adding him because he is a “veteran”.
Nelson Cruz, Carpenter, Odor ….
Did you even pay attention to Azocar’s bat in ST which was a likely result of his adding 20lbs of muscle?
Pham has consistently posted similar numbers for most of his career and last year gave his teams 16 HRs and 22 SB with roughly a .250 average and .325 obp. That’s a heck of a lot better than what they currently have.
Are you frigging kidding me?!
The only reason to support Azocar starting is for budgetary reasons.
No guarantee that money will be for spending during the season.
Pham has hit and hit well.
Odor hit well for a bit. Cruz/Carpenter were still worth the gamble.
The WHOLE team failed to hit last year, so singling the DHs out is a moot point.
So sorry Longtimecoming that I pulled you from your day off to have to address my comments.
Paid by post, I hope, or I’d renegotiate.
Oh, and spring training stats can be used to support any argument.
Stats of any kind can be used to support an argument. The truth is that Pham was horrible in SD. And he never seemed to gel with the team or the fans. I was happy to see him go and would not want him back. I’d take Profar any day over Pham in SD.
The Profar/Azocar argument is a budget argument plain and simple.
Pham’s production last year was a significant contribution to the DBacks success.
And yet they signed Peterson rather than bring back Pham.
Pham is sooo much better than those guys lol you’re crazy. Azocar? Dude is barely major league caliber…. Come on man
Pham has had a 100 OPS+ and 3.3 WAR in last 3 seasons. At 36 he is guaranteed to get worse.
Profar has 102 OPS+ and 4.8 WAR in 359 games as a Padre.
Pham is NOT better.
They need both the odd man out is Azocar
Azocar is a great fielding CF. Pham is horrible.
Padres need LHB. Pham is RHB.
If they signed Pham he would only be a platoon vs LHP or 32% of pitches thrown.
Yeah, Azocar fits this roster better than Pham. Put me in the camp that prefers Profar over Pham too! Even at the same cost let alone paying Pham 4x.
Pham was pretty bad as a Padre and now he is 3-4 years older. I don’t see the fit. I can’t see how his personality would be a benefit either.
Eddie Rosario at a similar cost would have been a much better fit, IMO. Or even Duval since he could at least play some CF.
Worse case scenario it sure seems like they could pick up a player like Pham via trade in June if the need is there. At least with someone like Oscar Mercado he’s dirt cheap and has some upside if they were hell bent on Graham Pauley starting in AAA.
Money, money, money.
If money is the argument that invalidates the whole point.
Argue production,sure. A good organization is willing to spend, even guys on minor league deals.
The Padres passed on myriads of minor league contracts. The latest Duvall and Taylor who were extremely affordable.
You have to have veteran depth.
Pham as a 32 and 33 year old hit .226/.335/.370 (97 OPS+) for the Padres. He is now 36 years old and it’s not like Pham did a whole damn lot to endure himself to the fans while he was here.
I’d much rather go with a lesser proven guy who isn’t at the twilight of his career than a none quantity that A) wasn’t that good the last time he was here many moons ago, and B) comes off as a bit of a headcase, to say it mildly.
Where’s Wil Myers…. now he would make some nice veteran depth without the unnecessary baggage.
@Brew’88 Everyone from here on out risks buying Pham’s final year in MLB. Even just his last 3 seasons, which averaged something like 550 PA per, only got him… 1.1 WAR a year.
1/4m is… okay for a 4th OFer, but no one should mistake him for a starter despite his competent 1/2 of a season w/ the Mets.
Exactly, still whether he starts or not with the Pads he fills a major need.
He can DH when needed as well.
@Jack. Exactly, Pham doesn’t move the needle as a starting OF. I’d rather persue a younger team controlled OF via trade, or just wait it out with Profar/Azocar/maybe Pauley and perhaps swing a deal mid-season for a better OF (better than Pham) and/or bring up Marsee later in year.
Please yes
He shouldn’t accept the racism that was directed at him by the Padres fans
No one should, despite the fact it has escalated again the past eight years.
Boo this man/woman/his/her/them
Try again Hot Dog.
dailymail.co.uk/sport/mlb/article-12425263/MLB-Tom…
Hey, Section 106 in tha house! Whoop whoop!
Calling someone a POS is not racist. I know that is hard to understand. Go virtue signal elsewhere.
No, but it is excrementist
Javia135 – Agreed. Calling someone a POS is not racist. It is not nice, but not racist.
Or nobody should sign Pham because he physically assaulted another player over a fantasy league dispute. But please talk about racism you can’t prove happened.
Sounds like your from San Fran
Sounds like you know nothing.
Pham should be signed if a team thinks he can contribute. It was a point toward the current treatment of Bauer and even Clevinger.
I’ll take Bauer in a half second, compared to Pham. However, I don’t give a dang about their “social score”. Unless they’re a convicted felon with a good likelyhood of future criminal activity, if they can play ball, sign ’em and let ’em play.
Archi – Yes, SF is a place that should know about excrement. Lol. They see it daily in the street there. Lol
All that said, Adam Duval received $3 million from the Braves, so Pham, who is a lesser player, IMO, should receive less than what he got.
Emotionally unstable, prone to fits of violent rage, mostly blind…Tommy Pham is the quintessential representative of the Pobres fanbase. Perfect match!
Wallabee
Did the San Diego Zoo close the panda exhibit when you were an 8 year-old visitor?
Hahaha
No, but I have been thoroughly & repeatedly embarrassed to be associated with Los Pobres and all of the Tommy Phams in the stands
You sound emotional and insecure. Stop blaming others because of your fragility
Los Pobres have a pretty solid and knowledgable fan base, in my opinion.
Wally, I’m sure if you turned your back on us…we’d manage to somehow move on. Sincerely a mixed-race, college educated Padres season ticket holder since 2004, without incident.
Pretty sure Wally is just a bloat-chested Dodger fan disturbingly proud of their billion dollah Offseason… everybody else is “Pobre” I guess.
If they don’t win it all, it’s gonna get ugly up at Chavez Ravine…
I had quite the in-person discussion with Vegas sportsbookies during Super Bowl week and collectively they predicted 1 chip for LA in the next 10 years. Flags fly forever, I get it, but I suspect LA wants numerous over the same period otherwise it might be a “letdown” of sorts.
Went to a Mets game at Petco last year. Padres fans are great! Even wearing my Mets gear,everyone was friendly and knowledgeable!
That’s great to hear brooklyn, yet also expected. Petco doesn’t really have any ruffians unless they traveled from LA and wear blue. Then all Betts are off and sheet can get weird in the Gaslamp.
@Gwynning…my wife and I went to Petco the first time in 2006 for the WBC. The ballpark, the fans and the vibe were the same if not better on our return last year. A really great ballpark!
gotta love posts like this
Should teach him to play 1B have a RH option there.
Already forgot about Profar? Nobody blames ya
Profar
.248/.326/.372 against lefties
Pham
.271/.381/.453 against lefties
Didn’t forget about Profar. I did remember he’s not very good against lefties.
Padres don’t need someone to hit lefties rn
Thanks for the stats Easy, but I lean towards what Goose said. I’d rather not bring in another RHH… especially with the surname Pham. If he helps the team, we’re all good though.
Profar 102 OPS+ and 4.8 WAR in 359 games as a Padre.
.246/.334/.376/.710 in Padres uniform
.241/.350/.383/.733 with a 108 OPS+ career at Petco
Pham 97 OPS+ and 1.3 WAR in 186 games as a Padre
.226/.335/.370/.705 in a Padres uniform
.216/.329/.383/.711 with 82 OPS+ career at Petco
Lefties make up 32% of pitches thrown.
Padres need LHB, not 36 year old RHB.
Don’t the Red Sox need an LF that can actually stay on the field? I know he has vision problems, but his body stays healthy to walk and run like a normal human. Sneezes don’t take 3 weeks of Minor League rehabs..
Pham>O’Neill
I saw the name Tommy in the headline and immediately thought another pitcher is down with Tommy John surgery
Bottom line is this guy is a solid right handed bat and I don’t know if he worked with Schilt before but he would be an affordable fit for this roster as it stands
He did work with Shildt. Reunited once again. Pham- tastic for two former Cardinal-Way rejects.
I like Pham. I’m glad any apparent beef between him and Kim isn’t getting in the way of a deal. He gives a lot more upside over Profar IMO.
Let’s hope Pham’s good with Kim. If he messes with him though it wouldn’t go well he’d be rendered into a veritable pile of ganglia and tossed off the Sunset Cliffs by Manny, Tati, Musgrove, etc…
Donovan Solano needs signed. Someone like the White Sox could really benefit from him.
With the rebuild on, no need of older vets filling the bench. Having a vet with staying power, like McCutchen, is fine. Solano passing thru, is not.
At least you can say that Tommy Pham comes to play every day. A lifetime ago (2017) Pham had a 6.2 WAR. In his last 6 seasons combined his WAR is 10.5. But during that period Pham has averaged 68 runs, 16 HR, 54 RBI, 15 SB, and a .760 OPS in 438 AB. So maybe he’s just misunderstood. But certainly productive.
Pham is holding out for an 11 year contract and Preller is only offering 9.
Wow. You’re. hilarious.
This should put the Pads over the top as favorites to win it all.
I’ll need to buy some Padres merch to jump on the bandwagon.
Costco seems to be your style
Not sure if the Padres store will accept your AARP card but it’s worth a shot…
You can get a refurbished swaggy chain at Kobey’s Swapmeet, Old Timer.
Guaranteed to actually spin at least 19% of the time!!!
Didn’t they already sign Jurickson Profar? How many nearly identical players do they need?
He’s a gamer. Reminds me of Dave Roberts.
Tommy Pham is a great hitter. However, he is just not right in the head. Always says bad things about his former team. He is also prone to fits of violent rage. Just look at not only all the altercations he has with fans but he also punched Joc Pederson in the face over fantasy football. I was excited when the Mets signed him. In fact, I was the only one in the whole comment section that actually liked the move last year. Everyone else were wondering why the Mets signed him. They thought he was below replacement level. As usual, I’m a baseball genius
If Shildt is advocating for Pham you bring him in at this price. Clearly Shildt loves him some Tommy Pham since his AA days.
Yeah Pham isn’t that bad of a guy. He takes s*** off of no one, plays the game hard, is in great shape, and has a good skill set. Not bad for a guy who cannot see!
I’m more concerned about fact he’s 36 and no longer very good at baseball
A question, can anyone name ONE time that Nightengale was correct about a rumor? Even one?
The same day Acee wrote that Pham said that he had not talked to the Padres at all.
A question, can anyone name ONE time that websoulsurfer was correct about a rumor? Even one?
I don’t get paid for my comments and why don’t you try answering MY question Ryan.
When has Nightengale been correct about a rumor? Even one?
Are you like obsessed with Ryan?
And to answer your question, I haven’t bothered reading a thing Bob Nightengale has said since the “Bauer to Mets” disaster 3 years ago. If I had it my way everyone would brigade everything he tweets with that. If enough people keep bugging him about it he’ll have to address the matter eventually, right?
So you are saying I am correct and Nightengale is wrong so often that you don’t even bother reading him. Why are you trying to troll me and commenting about the subject when you are admitting I am right about this?
Padres should pay his salary in $1 bills so he’ll have the money on hand for the San Diego strip clubs.
Sign him and get him over to Seoul quick. They’ve got some good strip clubs there!
Definitely. Pham should take a stab at it.
Yeah he really is a cut above the rest!
If he could slash 280/380/505 it would be a great cut rate deal. Unfortunately, when you strip the deal down to its bare bones, I don’t think he will cut it
Anything. Muay Thai, whatever.
#gotheeeeeeeeeem
Don’t give Nightengale legitimacy by reporting what he says on here. He still hasn’t admitted he was wrong about the Mets signing Trevor Bauer.
I like it. The Padres need OF depth and have DH AB’s to give once Machado goes back to 3B.
Michael A Taylor was an overwhelmingly better choice.
This feels unnecessary. Let Profar, Merrill & Azocar show what they can do. If it’s not good enough, go get an OF’er at the deadline.
This would pretty much peg them against the tax line and given how many holes they might need to fill the lack of flexibility seems like a bad idea.
That have 13m left, Pham for 3-4m gives them some wiggle room.
Padres are at $229.4 million right now. The CBT threshold is $237 million
You might be right, think fangraphs has them about 13m below but cots it’s closer to 8m.
Pham’s personality might be a really good thing in the White Sox’ locker room. He would not be afraid to get in Moncada’s face, for example.
His whole problem is that he gets in teammates faces far to often.
Yeah, but the White Sox are a team that needs that.
I would guess if you are a Twins, Guardians, Royals or Tigers fan the Sox need that.
Haven’t they had enough dysfunction?
No, no they haven’t. They invite dysfunction, it would be rude to refuse it.
Padres should look to trade for a cost controlled left handed bat. Some players they should target are: Jesus Sanchez, Kerry Carpenter, Dalton Varsho, and Mickey Moniak.
Not so sure about Moniak, but Sanchez would be good. How about Ramirez?
Harold?
Yes. Has a much better bat than Pham, 29 years old, and has played LF, RF, 1B, and DH the past 3 seasons.
He’s not a FA, not a great fielder, but great bat
Pham is not a great fielder and doesn’t have as good of a bat. Pham would be a backup. Ramirez could be a starter in LF.
@websoul. RE: my “great bat” comment. I was talking about Ramirez, not Pham
haha. You aint getting superstud Carpenter
Bad eyes, bad attitude. Bad deal.
Pham to the Padres for the MLB minimum, with reasonable incentives to double or even triple that, or …
… let the minor league prospects take his place. The net difference in WAR between Pham and someone like Marsee or Azocar, is not $3M, which is what Pham apparently is asking for, for a 1 year contract (i.e. $4M).
Admittedly, I don’t like Pham, but the issue is more about potential contribution. I believe he’d be a cancer in the clubhouse, or at least a net negative to the culture, and his roster position would be better used to find the minor league guy who could be there for the next 5 years. If you’re looking for a “veteran” to add to the roster for what a MLB vet can bring to the table, Pham ain’t really the guy.
Sign Austin Meadows if his mental health is stable.
Pass, I can’t stand him. I would rather give a 2nd prospect a chance.
Tommy Pham was one of the most responsible players for the Padres 2021 collapse of 12-34 in their last 46 games (after a 67-49 start) after August 10.
From August 10 on in 2021, Phams splits were ..184/.305/.349, He started 44 of those 46, in which the Padres went 10-34.
I don’t trust Pham as a professional baseball player due to performances like these with the Padres.,
He played injured. We saw the real Tommy Pham last season.
Padres should go after Brandon Belt (Left handed DH, and spot starter at 1B) and pass on Pham.
Belt has averaged a 140 OPS+ from 2020-2023 with a ..508 SLG and a .369 OBP. Meanwhile, Pham only has a 98 OPS+ and a .392 SLG during the same 4 year stretch.
Belt would clearly be the best left handed hitter on the Padres if signed..
Prob is manny maybe at dh for awhile. So that would mean moving all the infield around and belt playing a lot of first base. I don’t see them doing that. If manny was healthy then this would be a viable option.
I like Belt as an acquisition, they do need a vet bench bat/DH. Hopefully Machado doesn’t DH past April. Campy, when not catching, could DH a lot this year too.
I could see Belt at the right price ie close to the minimum he would be an excellent bat off the bench could play some 1b and DH when Manny comes back. I don’t think Manny intends to be a permanent DH this year. Worse case they give Cronenworth some time at 3b if Manny lingers. Still would want Pham vs Azocar.. This also gives Pauley more development time in the minors.
Unless the guy is a real needle mover, I can’t see AJ Preller signing an out of work FA after Spring Training is over. (Now, remember, we’re talking AJP here, who could sign or trade anyone on any day of the year.) And, if they WERE a needle mover, they are no longer available, IMHO. There are exceptions (e.g. any player with an agent named “Boras”), but they’re also not going to available at prices the Padres can at the moment, pay (re: Snell).
Pass on Pham, AJP. The Padres are better without him.
Pham is definitely not the answer here.