The Cardinals are going to place outfielder Tommy Pham on waivers, reports Katie Woo of The Athletic. He has not been designated for assignment and can continue playing for the Cards for now. He can also stay with them if he goes unclaimed, but the waivers are irrevocable, so he will be changing teams if any other clubs puts in a claim. He will be postseason eligible for his new club as long as he is claimed prior to September 1.
Acquired from the White Sox alongside Erick Fedde in the three-team deadline deal that sent Tommy Edman and minor league righty Oliver Gonzalez to the Dodgers, Pham returned home to the organization that originally drafted him. He debuted with a bang, hitting a pinch-hit grand slam in his return to the Cards, but the 36-year-old outfielder has since fallen into a slump. After posting a Herculean .379/.400/.759 slash in his first eight games back in St. Louis, Pham has just three hits in his past 47 plate appearances.
Even with that downturn over the past three weeks, Pham still owns a solid .254/.321/.378 slash in 374 plate appearances this season. He’s only been about 2% worse than league average at the plate this season overall, as measured by wRC+, and he’s been characteristically solid against lefties: .232/.323/.439 (115 wRC+). He’s drawn poor defensive ratings across the board, though his defensive marks have been weighed down by the White Sox playing him in center field for more than 200 innings — largely out of necessity. Pham isn’t the plus corner outfielder he once was but can still handle left field capably.
Pham is playing the current season on a $3MM base salary, and he’ll be a free agent at season’s end. Any team that claims him will owe Pham $484K for the remainder of the season before he returns to the open market this winter.
The Cardinals are seven games back in the Wild Card hunt and even further buried in the National League Central. Both FanGraphs and PECOTA give St. Louis scarcely more than a 1% chance of reaching the playoffs. We’ve seen teams erase larger leads in September in the past, but it seems charitable to even call a playoff berth a “long shot” at this point. Even if the Cards like their chances more than those odds would indicate, the team surely recognizes the slim nature of their playoff hopes and will give Pham a chance to chase down a ring in the event that another club wants to add a veteran right-handed bat to its bench mix for the regular season’s final four weeks.
I don’t care if he’s a thug or not the mariners could use him (if) they still think they are in the hunt
and play him over who?
Canzone, for one.
Note: Canzone was already sent down to make room for Crawford. So, i’d still play Pham over Haniger and option Rivas until September 1 (which is just a few days away) when I’d bring him right back up as the 14th hitter. I’d also put Haniger and Garver on waivers just to see if there is someone desperate enough to pay them.
Pham is not a LHB; this management prefers to play matchups
Not better than your current guys. Sign him and you be more tormented.
“Not better than your current guys.”
He is arguably better at the plate, in the field, and on the bases than Haniger, Garver, and Canzone.
“Sign him and you be more tormented.”
He’s a one month rental, he’s not going to cause a huge regret if he craters. Unlike Garver and Haniger, who are both signed through next season at double digit million salaries.
I was thinking Mariner’s should try to get him too. He could help them
He’s almost bad enough to be on the Pirate’s radar if he keeps it up
Tommy Pham is a negative WAR player who is ice cold at the plate. Even Haniger is .1 above replacement level. Why bother
What?????
What is with everyone playing roster games in late August? This is silly. You traded for him and now you don’t want to pay him his modest salary? Dumb dumb dumb.
He’s gonna get paid. They don’t want him because he isn’t contributing anything.
He’s going to get paid. But the reason for doing this is the Cardinals are trying to get out of paying him.
Dumb
It’s not dumb. He’s not contributing. They can bring up a player with greater upside.
He’s had 68 at bats. That’s not anything to draw conclusions from. Walker has a 753 OPS at AAA. He’s got upside but he’s not any good.
Why trade for him then? Why give away Carlson to make room for him?
I asked that question when they did it.
Dumb, dumb, dumb.
The team was in the playoff hunt at the time dude. Sure better than trading for Soler and his backloaded contract.
That move worked out well huh? The Cards are 21 million under the tax. So I guess they’re trying to save what exactly?
I don’t think it worked out poorly. Fedde and Pham for an injured Edman was a terrific deadline deal I would do that again 10 times out of 10.
Pham is on Waivers and Fedde has sucked since he was moved there. 10 out of 10 huh? OK. Low expectations huh? Traded nothing and got nothing isn’t exactly a recipe for success.
The team will be 500 in a few minutes. Unlikely they make the playoffs but it’s possible.
Good gosh dude calm down.
Wrong again.
They aren’t making the playoffs with marmol managing the club
If only they kept shildt…
Fedde is under contract for less than Edman was in 2025. Again we are talking ultra small sample sizes.
Paredes has a 545 OPS with the Cubs. Does that mean it was a dumb trade?
Parades hasn’t exactly performed like a thoroughbred here. His bat has been horrible but his glove is arguably better I guess. But if I could get Bigge back right now I probably would. Paredes hasn’t moved the needle much. Yeah, it was a dumb trade. So you made the deal just to get Fedde for next yer? Paredes has more years of control at least. And he can be moved if they find something better. If you’re happy so am I. Because I don’t see it helping the Cards this year or next much really.
Both deals were good deals. I don’t judge trades based on 3 weeks of performance.
StL is 6.5 games behind Braves for final WC, with 28 games to go, and with 3 other teams between them and the Braves. They’re chances are 1% or less, and dropping Pham shows this realization by the FO
Pham being on the team or not makes no difference whatsoever. Last year the team was worse and they were trotting out pitchers like Barnes and a couple other bums I can’t remember. It’s just a dumb move with no purpose.
I think they’re just trying to save $ Pink, that’s all. Assuming a team signs him.
Its barely any money. It’s a bad look.
Paredes deal was supposed to be made for next year. and beyond. I’m not even sure right now that Paredes is the Cubs 3B for next year much less beyond. Bigge and Morel for a guy who might not be here. So yeah, Strike one-Bad trade unless Paredes starts showing something. At least when Morel struck out he was more entertaining. Bigge was the real loss.
They weren’t trading FOR HIM, they were trading to get Fedde. White Six required them to take on Pham as well for salary relief.
I’m not even sure which is worse. The Yankees being 200 million over the Tax or the Cubs whining about being 500,000 over the Tax which isn’t even over the Tax IMO. Ricketts tips his gardener more than the fine will be for that. And it’s not going to cost draft positions or any of the other stuff that matters. The Cubs will easily be able to reset the tax again next year anyway.
You think Paredes is going to have a 540 OPS next year? I bet he doesnt.
Fedde was having a great year. Edman was hurt. And Edman makes more money in 2025.
AGREE!
You only got Fedde. If Little Tommie comes back, like I think he will, you will regret the trade
Which Fan?
Edman had a serious wrist injury. And Siani played well in Edmans absence. Pretty much everyone who critiques this stuff agrees the Cardinals won that trade.
Yeah, I thought Soler was a mistake too, but he’s hitting for power and draewing walks. He’s actually been contributing.
What r u talking about Pham stinks he’s not helping the team case closed
Wrong! Fedde’s only good outing was his last one. The Dodgers get an all-star 2nd baseman, with fantastic versatility, who has had no major injuries in his career, until the wrist problem. Watch what he will do for the Bums.
Everyone? Guess again!
Yeah, moving, Carlson, O’Neill, and Armstrong for nothing is criminal. Other organizations would have gotten a promising lower level prospect for them, but they dissed them so much that they ended up with nothing. F…ING brilliant.
Going over the tax by 500k is just moronic. Tax penalties escalate every year your over it. Why would you put yourself in that position of future escalation penalties over 500k?
Man Blackpink you are having a rough week, eh?
Started with your nose getting out of joint with that Contreras injury article being written by a “Cub fan.”
Then the Cardinals are ACTUALLY chasing the Cubs in the standings.
And now….the blasphemy of putting Pham on waivers to save a few bucks and further embarassment.
Furthermore you are getting schooled by Travis and Uncle.
Holiday is coming up—take the weekend off and come back fresh next Tuesday.
And in case you really care…the Cardinals aren’t chasing the Cubs anymore—they are fending off the Reds and Pirates.
Maybe they’re trying to let Pham go to a contender and give someone with a future there some PT. He made some sense at the time when they thought the playoffs were possible but that’s not happening
“Traded nothing and got nothing isn’t exactly a recipe for success.”
It’s not a recipe for failure either.
And don’t forget this, Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.
I know! Carlson was given away and the Cardinals will regret it
Michael Palin Rules! Nice reference. I’m jealous. Great Googily Moogily
1% chance is a lot worse than “unlikely”.
Letting him go now
-buys good will with players around the league for letting Pham seek a better opportunity before the deadline
-with the season already down the drain, they could give at bats to Sept callups rather than a retread with zero future in the organization
-has zero relevance to the trade that brought him there. Look up sunk cost fallacy to better understand.
did u even follow the waiver deadline last year? The angels placed half their team on waivers including guys they got at the dead line a few weeks prior. this is nothing new. get over it.
Wow.blackinpink and that guy who hates conservatives will not be happy
Maybe another barfight will rejuvenate his career, or get more woe is me types defending him for the zillionth time.
I hope the Braves pass.
wouldn’t mind the brewers picking him up
No way big time cancer
Brewers are already stacked at outfield he would get no time
So, big mouth moving on to another team again..lol
Mad
Troll
Muted
they are waiving the white flag and trying to save every nickel they can, by hoping someone else will pick up him and pay the last month of the salary.
I have the game on now, it’s shocking how few people are in the stands, even for a day game.. I no longer live in St. Louis, but I wouldn’t give the team any money now either, given the rank incompetence of the past month and the penny-pinching with Armstrong and now Pham,
Yeah these crowds are incredibly small. Baseball has been declining in popularity for years but having Pujols and a competitive team meant fans showed up for a while.
STL average attendance is down about 4,000 per game. Overall, attendance has been almost identical to last year. Average attendance from 2023 to 2024 has gone up 90 people per game.
STL has the second highest drop in total attendance (310,179), behind the Mets (327,578).
The Cardinals have been artificially inflating attendance numbers for years. And I kinda think other teams are doing it too although I don’t know that to be fact.
Braves have a great team and a brand new stadium. Just like the Cardinals did 15 or 20 years ago. Enjoy it while it lasts.
I tuned in when I could for the Padres series. I don’t ever remember seeing Busch Stadium that empty before.
It never has been that empty before. Record low attendance
We went to a Braves/Cardinals game, and it felt like we were in a war zone when we walked outside the ballpark. We were going to spend the night at a hotel near the ballpark, but the sound of gunshots convinced us to drive back home.
Dude I have been to over 300 Cardinals games in my lifetime never once heard gunshots. You can run into sketchy people for sure but never had any problems used to park my car on the street never any problems. I live in Denver now I am far more concerned for my safety out here.
We went last year. When’s the last time you went?
3 years ago. I dont think the city is in some massive decline. Downtown St Louis has always been sketchy but you are being dramatic.
Correcto. I have been going to Cards’ games for 70 years. Never have I heard a gunshot, and this includes old Busch on Grand. Arriving solo since I was 7, off the bus from Normandy shopping center, at 2 p.m to the park and into the Cards’ and visiting clubhouse where my Dad was busy repairing player’s gloves.
That’s cool Spud !!
The whole downtown St Louis being dangerous thing is so overplayed. It’s one of those things that people just believe without actually knowing the truth. There are places near downtown that are dangerous, but all in all, the stadium/ballpark village area is pretty safe with the exception of some vehicle break-ins and other minor stuff. It’s not Chicago where people are actually firing gunshots into the stadium.
Yeah I think you gotta be careful but on game nights there are tons of people around and not much crime.
I’ve seen issues on the Metrolink after a hockey game, but that was mostly drunken loudmouths. Never had any issues downtown and I’m there a lot, and usually on foot. Worst thing you have to look out for is people driving like a-holes, but that’s just a St Louis thing.
It was sketchy the night we were there. Gunshots and sirens. We were uncomfortable.
Maybe it wasn’t gunshots but more like cars back-firing. Happened to me once walking up to Oakland Colleseum. It was a vehicle back-firing but everyone on the sidewalks and in the bus next to us just instinctualy and immediately hit the deck or dove for cover like it happens every day…it was an interesting experience lol.
Rarely are their gunshits in downtown entertainment districts or near stadiums. Every major US cityI have ever been to has a heavy police presence in the areas that generate $ through entertainment.
Even in Detroit maybe once every few years is their such an incident in heavy traffic entertainment areas. And the ensuing police presence has always been unprecedented. Now outlying areas of major cities vary wildly.
Maybe it was just our bad luck to be there on the one night someone was shooting. Pretty sure it was backfires. Seven or eight pops at two different pitches and cadences.
will Tommy resume his martial arts and Jiu Jitsu training if he is out of a job? You never know who he will need to fight next.
Making room for John Brebbia on the 40-man no doubt. At least that’s what most STL are likely pining for.
I hope you’re right
Kyle Gibson. As advertised. A 36 yr old innings eater with a 5 +/- era. Would Cards consider putting him on waivers but staying on roster as well?
Too many contenders right now just looking for a warm body to put out there every 5th day. At his age, can’t see Cards exercising that 25 option. Plus they save some cash this year along with eliminating that off season 1 mil buyout.
I doubt it. He’s running Adam Wainwright’s charity now and they have a big fantasy football event coming up at Busch, if they didn’t already do it. He sticks around for the season just because of that, but my guess would be they decline the option.
Lucky man, leaving 2 sinking ships in one season.
That’s all I can think about every time I see his name. At this point it’s disappointing if he doesn’t slap someone.
Pham is like hunter Renfro a clubhouse cancer. Just say no and go with young kids.
How is renfroe a cancer? Just curious never heard that about him but I’ve also never followed closely
He’s like a hillbilly country boy x 100. Some people get along with guys like that and others don’t. Like seriously chewing on a piece of hay.
Everyone says Pham is a clubhouse cancer too but no one can actually prove it. Everything I’ve ever heard is that the guys in the clubhouse love the guy and respect the hell out of him. He might slap a guy around in the outfield once in a while(Joc Pedersen has the kind of face you wanna slap) but I’ve never heard anything bad about him in the clubhouse in either of his stints in St Louis.
He played for lot of teams the last 3 or4 years. His attitude has rub his teammates the wrong way.
Talking about hunter.
“Strip Club Tommy” is on the move again, prepare yourself you know it’s a must. Ahahaha!
Yea I had wondered about if they would do that and possibly Lance Lynn if he is close to healthy
When the Cardinals made the trade for Fedde and Pham, it made sense at the time because they had a realistic chance for the 3rd Wild Card position and they were in need of another starting pitcher and a right handed hitting outfielder. The Cardinals offense had been terrible against lefthanded pitching. Now that the Cardinals had a disappointing August and likely will not catch the Braves, who currently holds the third Wild Card, it makes perfect sense for the Cardinals to place Pham on waivers and it makes perfect sense for Pham. The Cardinals need to provide their young outfielders, Nootbaar, Scott, Siani, and Burleson, with as many at bats as possible so that they can continue their development. On top of that, Jordan Walker could be added to the roster in September. The presence of Pham would only deprive the younger players of at bats. Pham meanwhile has stated that he wants to return to post-season play, and another team that is in contention can provide him with that.
Thought it was shocking this would have 60+ comments already, then realized half were blackpink.
I think he’s on the hidden payroll here to farm engagement and generate clicks.
Haha I probably should be on the payroll. Some people are more engaging than others. As much as I like to hear myself talk I try to have conversations it’s more fun that way.
I was 89% teasing on that one.
I like how teams do this with veterans that deserve playoff shots. Now some if not all teams do this to save 300K-1M on the season but guys like Pham even if they aren’t the players they used to be they deserve a shot at a chip
I wonder what kind of guy he is in the clubhouse. A lot of one and done stops. He was a little challenging with the Cardinals the first time. Just speculating, but starting to see a trend.
You have to understand he was treated poorly as a Cardinal back then. He was passed over for players like Piscotty and Grichuk and some other guys I can’t remember because they weren’t any good. Because he was stuck in the minors so long it impacted his earning ability later in his career. Pham is no angel but the team did him wrong back then.
The thing that pissed Pham off during his first time in St. Louis was the Cardinals had an opening in LF and Pham was hitting well in AAA. Instead, they tried Chris Duncan in LF -a bad defensive first baseman learning to play the outfield at the MLB. At the time, Pham said something like “this is what you think of me?!”
Yes good memory
What we are seeing is a classic example of how Analytics has ruined the game. Marmol the Cardinal”s mgr realies heavily on Analytics and he only wanted to platoon Pham versus lefthanders. Yet, Pham is that type of player who needs to play everyday. Plus, at trading deadline, the Cardinals were informed that Pham wanted to play everyday before the trade. Well what happen? It’s easy, Pham is hitting 60 points lower with the Cardinals, and Pham is protected by a number of better ballplayers so what happen is that Analytics only produces mediocrity! Analytics doesn’t produce anything, but allows the lazy managers and Gm’s a way to get away from doing their job the old fashion way!
then again, maybe the Cards closing down the shop!
I just hope they don’t bring Jordan Walker back up and mess with his head any more. Leave him in Memphis and let him have some success down there. If they do bring him up he needs to play every day.
Pham originally had to deal with a lot of injuries . Had a pretty serious condition with his eyes. They eventually figured out a prescription with contacts that really helped it.
I’m like many others. I’ve gone to 100’s of Cardinal games over the years with no issue down town . Any big city has some issues down town
Cards fan… I avoided being apathetic like most of the fan base… I’m EFFING DONE NOW
Hope he goes and gets a ring…
You’re done because they released a guy with a negative bWAR?
For all the talk about well-traveled veterans playing for 14 teams in 20 years, Pham might be setting new records. He’s been on 9 teams in the past 7 years (Cards twice).
And 7 teams in the past 4 years.
Fun fact. Pham and his . 254 avg would be the 4th best hitter on the Rays this season!
Cardinal owners and management are clueless , they don’t know what to due. They are good at TWO things, losing and pissing off the best fan base in baseball.
Ummm….their season is over and they are giving a guy a chance to get picked up by a playoff contender. So yeah, Cardinals owners and management did the right thing by this guy. Sorry you don’t see that. Hope your day gets better.
What team in the hunt for a WC is going to pick up a guy with a below average OPS+ and a -0.5 WAR? Especially one with a history of not being a positive influence in the clubhouse.
Cardinals are trying to dump a guy with a .206 BA and 81 OPS that has played atrocious defense for their team.
Sorry. Don’t think any decent team is claiming Tommy.
You REALLY need to do some research.
But to answer your question, in 2018, it was Tampa. In 2022 it was Boston. In 2023 it was Arizona. This year is TBD.
He must really be a negative influence in the clubhouse with all of these teams eager to get him.
“What team in the hunt for a WC…blah blah blah.”
The Royals, that’s who, genius.
He wasn’t below 0 in WAR those years was he. Cardinals finished with a winning record AFTER they shipped him OUT. Boston’s had a losing record after trading for him. Maybe YOU need to do some research before spouting BS like that.
Pasquantino getting his thumb broken and Hunter Renfroe going on the IL for a hamstring on successive days was not on my bingo card when I posted. I take it your crystal ball was better than mine. Oh wait, you made a snide comment AFTER that happened.
Do you really think that either Pham or Grossman will be on the Royals roster once those guys return? So who will be Strip club Tommy’s 10th team?
Wow. So weird that Tommy Pham IS still on the roster and is hitting leadoff. Nice prediction.
Weird. Pasquantino is not on the active roster yet.
Pham sitting on bench for this game – baseball-reference.com/boxes/KCA/KCA202409210.shtm…
Nice 6 game losing streak with hm in games too. 7 game losing streak overall and the Pham curse continues.
Yknow I can see Getz resigning him. Yes, it makes little sense, but I still see Getz signing him, whether now, or in the offseason. I think at this point the Sox want to lose 100 games three years in a row. Maybe Jerry-atric Reinsdorf just wants records, regardless of what the record is for.
All I know about Mr. Pham is that he has always MURDERED Pirate pitching. Sorry he is at the end of his career and I wish him luck in his next endeavor..
Where can one find the MLB team waiver order?
Strip Club Tommy wore out his welcome in the St Louis lineup and clubhouse pretty fast. From what I heard from Cardinal’s fans, I was sure he would lead them to the promised land. Guess not.
No, he didn’t. You didn’t hear that from ANYONE. Keep spewing your dramatic BS.
There were LITERALLY posts on THIS BOARD to that effect. Maybe you should try ACTUALLY reading the comments and not just coming on here to try in vain to give me garbage. It just makes you look worse than you normally look.