The Pirates have signed Tommy Pham to a one-year, $4,025,000 deal, per source.
The move brings the Pirates' expected 2025 payroll to $82,524,080, according to Ethan Hullihen. The Pirates had a payroll of $84,050,989 last season, according to Spotrac.com.
Pham, a soon to be 37-year-old outfielder, is heading into his 11th MLB season after playing for the Cardinals, White Sox and Royals last season. He hit .248/.305/.368 with nine home runs and 39 RBIs. In his career he's hit .258/. 346/.427 with a .773 OPS and has hit better than .270 just three times.
I would expect Pham to compete for time in right field, but he could play right or left field as well. However, as expected, there’s not much to this move.
In fact, it doesn’t even move the needle much more than it would have if the Pirates tendered a contract to Connor Joe, who was projected to make $3.2 million in arbitration and is still a free agent. Joe’s 2024 numbers were similar, and in some ways better, than Pham’s. Joe played in seven more games (123), had the same amount of home runs, a higher OPS (.688) and a higher bWAR (0.6). And if the purpose of signing Pham is to get a capable hitter against left-handed pitching, Joe hit .234 with a .714 OPS against lefties last season. Pham hit .222 with a .674 OPS.
THE ASYLUM
Pham agrees to one-year deal
The Pirates have signed Tommy Pham to a one-year, $4,025,000 deal, per source.
The move brings the Pirates' expected 2025 payroll to $82,524,080, according to Ethan Hullihen. The Pirates had a payroll of $84,050,989 last season, according to Spotrac.com.
Pham, a soon to be 37-year-old outfielder, is heading into his 11th MLB season after playing for the Cardinals, White Sox and Royals last season. He hit .248/.305/.368 with nine home runs and 39 RBIs. In his career he's hit .258/. 346/.427 with a .773 OPS and has hit better than .270 just three times.
I would expect Pham to compete for time in right field, but he could play right or left field as well. However, as expected, there’s not much to this move.
In fact, it doesn’t even move the needle much more than it would have if the Pirates tendered a contract to Connor Joe, who was projected to make $3.2 million in arbitration and is still a free agent. Joe’s 2024 numbers were similar, and in some ways better, than Pham’s. Joe played in seven more games (123), had the same amount of home runs, a higher OPS (.688) and a higher bWAR (0.6). And if the purpose of signing Pham is to get a capable hitter against left-handed pitching, Joe hit .234 with a .714 OPS against lefties last season. Pham hit .222 with a .674 OPS.
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