The White Sox are set to select the contract of veteran outfielder Tommy Pham, reports Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times. Fellow outfielder Kevin Pillar will be designated for assignment as the corresponding move, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports. Pham had an out clause in his minor league contract that he could exercise if not added to the roster heading into this weekend. He’ll earn a prorated $3MM salary on his deal with the South Siders.
Pham, 36, only got into four games with the White Sox’ Triple-A affiliate in Charlotte but handled himself well, going 5-for-17 with a double, two steals, one walk and just three strikeouts in 18 total plate appearances. The veteran corner outfielder is coming off a season where he slashed a combined .256/.328/.446 with 16 homers, 27 doubles, three triples and 22 stolen bases in 481 plate appearances between the Mets and Diamondbacks. If he can come anywhere close to that level of production, he’d immediately become one of the most productive bats in a punchless White Sox lineup that ranks dead last in Major League Baseball in runs scored, home runs, batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.
Given the White Sox’ disastrous start to the season, Pham seems likely to be afforded fairly regular playing time. Left fielder Andrew Benintendi is out to an astonishingly bad .165/.202/.188 start through his first 89 plate appearances and could see his playing time take a hit. That’s particularly true given that right fielder Gavin Sheets has been the team’s best offensive player at .246/.361/.464. Sheets came up as a first baseman though, so it’s also feasible that he could see some extra reps there, considering Andrew Vaughn’s own woeful .170/.255/.216 output on the season. Designated hitter Eloy Jimenez has a grim .200/.280/.333 line in 50 plate appearances, but he’s been swinging the bat well over the past week.
Pillar, 35, also signed a minor league pact with a $3MM base salary. He made the big league roster out of camp but — like the majority of Chicago’s offense — has sputtered to begin the season. He’s only received 32 plate appearances but has turned in a tepid .160/.290/.360 batting line with a homer and two doubles in that time. With Pillar and Pham both being right-handed hitters, their simultaneous presence on the roster apparently was deemed redundant.
Once one of the game’s premier defensive center fielders, Pillar has settled into a bench role in recent seasons. He spent the 2023 campaign with the Braves, hitting for decent power but struggling to get on base — evidenced by his .228/.248/.416 slash and nine round-trippers in 206 plate appearances. That’s right in line with Pillar’s overall production over the past four seasons; he’s a .224/.265/.408 hitter in 598 turns at the plate during that span.
The White Sox will have a week to trade Pillar, pass him through outright waivers or release him. A release is most common for veterans in situations like this one. That’d put Pillar back on the open market and allow him to field interest from the other 29 teams around the league.
“White Sox to select Trade Bait”
Baseball: Of course he’ll be traded at the deadline. That’s a given. Getz’ doesn’t want players who can play well. It messes up his whole plan, to keep the Sox as a tax write-off for his boss. You use players like Pham as placeholders until your prospects are ready for the majors. Oh, that’s right. The Sox have no prospects.
No one wanted him when he was a free agent. Why would they trade something for him?
stymeedone: You’re right. This is a job for the same people who are trying to figure out why Belt is still unsigned.
A team set to lose 100 games again. Probably 120 has NO young outfielders in their system to play. Unbelievable.
Now. They’re bringing up 32 year old Ortega to play with Benintendi, Pham, Grossman and Lillar goes to the minors.
Well they have Colas, but apparently have given up on him (or just don’t want him taking at bats away from Sheets or Benitendi . If they wanted to send Colas a message to improve, demote him to AA to see if that would spark him, but I guess the Sox need AAA roster fodder at this point.
Pham is a helluva player for a guy who can’t see!
More Pham-ine than Pheast
Pham time
Not sure why they got rid of Pillar. Grossman or Fletcher could have gone also. What did they do, Spin a bottle on the floor?
They need to spin an octopus to get the right results, Uncle.
Maybe, just maybe, Pillar’s contract cost to much to keep a .160 hitter on your bench?
Just guessing.
But where does that place him on this Getz wet-dream team?
Getz just could be worse than Hahn. Time will tell.
It’s possible.
Fletcher is weird, he kind of looks like major league player, until you see him bat. He just looks like a light hitter with maybe warning track power.
Bone- Might not be the least of their problems, But it’s in the top 2 I’m betting. He’s a joke. Wonder what it’s like to be mathematically eliminated by Memorial Day?
The Sox are 15 games back in their division… and it’s still April! Yow.
Forget being 15 back—they are 8.5 clear of the FOURTH place team.
But—check the trend so far: lost 4 to open the season–then WON a game—then lost 5—then WON a game—-then lost 6 more in a row and then WON a game—since have lost 7 in a row—-let’s see if they can keep the “trend going”.
They’ve had separate four, five, six, and seven game losing streaks already this year.
@uncle. I did bet, lol. When in AZ, went and dropped a couple hundred on the ‘under win total’, of 60 1/2 on our boys. But actually I was pulling for the Sox the last few days, because I have the under on the Twins too, at 86 1/2.
Also on the Cards, at 84 1/2 wins.
It’s possible that picking up the $$, could pay for my round trip airfare lol.
Looking good so far Bone! This where I’d put the thumbs up emoji.
??? Mets are listed twice.
LFG Mets: How is Grifol still the Sox manager? Because winning isn’t the objective. An experienced manager would never go to the Sox since the organization was put together by a bunch of pre-schoolers. There is no future until you-know-who bites the dust. Now, when you’re feeling frustrated by the Sox, repeat to yourself the Sox mantra: JERRY DOESN’T CARE!
Just in time for the playoff push. Only 15 games from first in the central and 11 out of the WC.
Let’s Go!!!
White Sox are already 15 games out of first place in the first month of season, If there are 6 months in a season that means the Sox will finish the season about 90 games out by season end.. Thanks Jerry, Chris and any body else who helped but this team together.
The 1916 Philadelphia Athletics went 36-117 for the worst record in history after 1901. We may see it broken.
Jack, don’t forget to ‘thank’, Kenny and also Jerry’s a**, err, I mean ace in the hole – tight pants Tony LaRussa.
Did anyone really have high hopes this season for Sox? Also, did Hahn get a job elsewhere? Don’t think Kenny did but Hahn was pretty smart and I liked most of his moves.
Sox/Reinsdorf in a good spot, they need far less money than Bears for stadium and it’s likely neither get tons of taxpayer money. Move to Nashville then in 5-6 years
Forget Nashville, Montreal is hunting for a team! They tried to get the Rays.
Ppl need to stop with the Nashville BS. It’s ain’t happening.
No, didn’t expect the Sox to be good but this is beyond ridiculous.
As I said before, I don’t want anyone to get hurt but maybe the team needs a bench clearing brawl to help them wake up. Maybe the team needs to get pissed off and play angry because the current strategy isn’t working.
Except they might get their ass kicked in a brawl, adding insult to injury
Cleveland comes on the schedule in a couple weeks for round II. Or… or wait for an easier fight when Miami hits the schedule in July.
The Sox players can get as angry as they want. The sad fact is, these guys are at their peak. It’s.not going to get any better than this.
Nashville will only work if the team is sold to local owners. Otherwise, its more of “Getz and his KC Band” which isn’t showing any sunshine anywhere.
Pham-tastic!
“Pham has an out clause…”
Heck, the entire team has an “out clause” whenever they come to the plate.
It’s because Pillar homered the other day. Dam it Pillar, we are trying to lose here!
Pillar got another ~30 days towards the 100 he needs for 10 years of service time. My guess is that he will be back on the White Sox on August 1 to finish out the season and get another ~60.
Plenty of strip clubs to get stabbed at on the south side.
Am I wrong or even with this run to have the worst record in Baseball History since 1901 is it true that the best draft position Getzy and his Crew can get is #10 for the 2025 draft? Want to bet they blow it? I mean, it would not be like them to win, would it?
They won’t break the loss record. Remember that the 1988 O’s started much worse and still didn’t come close to breaking the record.
I kind of laughed at the results of last nights game.. Pham comes up, gets two hits, and bunch of the Sox lineup actually hit. How bad of a pitching staff do you have to be to give up 9 runs (and 12 hits) to this Sox team? The Rays must be pissed right now.. Though as the Sox used up all this weeks runs for one game expect them to be shut out tonight and maybe tomorrow as well…
I’m here just to post this quote from this guy today….”There’s a reason why I do all kinds of fighting in the offseason. ‘Cause I’m prepared to f— somebody up. So, take it as what it is.”
And that’s why you are playing for the Chisox