The Cincinnati Reds are ADDING a player. With money! That’s wild.
After an offseason of unloading players, per Bobby Nightengale, the Reds are signing outfielder Tommy Pham to a one-year, $7.5 million deal.
Best known for his breakout years with the Cardinals, Pham was later traded to the Rays and then the Padres, where he hit just .229/.340/.383 (102 wRC+) last year, while playing almost exclusively left field (where he has played most in recent years). His market was not going to be especially strong, but he’s a decent bounce-back candidate. Pham was the victim of a terrible stabbing last offseason, which did not cost him time on the IL last season, but did completely disrupt his offseason routine (for obvious reasons!). So it’s possible last year’s off showing was partially because of that.
It is also true, however, that Pham was 33 last year, and maybe it was just natural decline setting in. It’s certainly worth it for the Reds to sign him to a one-year deal to find out, though. They have nothing to lose, even if he doesn’t help them compete, maybe he becomes a flippable piece in July (you are familiar with the concept).