The Mets’ conquest for a fourth outfielder came to an end on Wednesday morning. According to MLB.com, they reached an agreement with veteran Tommy Pham on a one-year, $6 million contract. The contract is still pending a physical, and the club has not yet confirmed it.
Pham, who will turn 35 in March, complements starter outfielders Mark Canha, Brandon Nimmo, and Starling Marte with a combination of power and speed. Pham is one of only 25 players in the Major League with at least 100 career home runs and 95 career steals, and he has hit double-digit home runs in each of the last five complete Major League seasons.
However, Pham’s output has decreased since he was in his early to mid-thirties. He had a.277/.373/.472 slash line from 2014–19 with the Cardinals and Rays, but only hit.236/.312/.374 across 144 games for the Reds and Red Sox in 2022. He has a.696 OPS over the past three seasons.
Tommy Pham was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 16th round of the 2006 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut for the Cardinals in 2014. He was the starting centerfielder for the Cardinals in 2016.
Known for his strong arm, power and speed on the field. His most notable achievement is being the 2018 American League Gold Glove winner. It is to no surprise that a team like the Mets would be interested in him.
Reactions to Pham joining the Mets
I know Tommy Pham has a reputation for being a dick. I don't expect that to be an issue on this Mets team though. Buck won't tolerate that. Mets clubhouse culture will hopefully have a positive impact on Pham.
— Ben Yoel (@Ben_Yoel) January 18, 2023
Tommy Pham’s tenure with the Mets has been met with mixed reactions from fans. Some have criticised his behavior on the field, claiming that he is not a pleasant person.
However, others have noted that Mets manager Buck Showalter will not tolerate such behaviour, and that Pham’s skills and talents will be beneficial for the team. There are also fans who believe that Pham is exactly what the Mets need, and that they will be successful with him on the team.
Tommy Pham is a major league player. Hit 17 bombs last year. We’re getting him for basically zero dollars. Mccutchen wanted to go back to his OG team, Duvall wanted playing time and we couldn’t offer that. Tommy Pham is a perfectly acceptable addition. Fan base fuckin blows https://t.co/XEvKlOf8gC
— KFC (@KFCBarstool) January 19, 2023
Another fan tweeted in support of him joining the Mets. He claimed that Pham has an impressive rap sheet and would definitely help the Mets in winning a couple of trophies in this season.
Talks on how he is able to involve himself in matches on a daily basis are still astonishing to his fans. Statements that he will “add value” to the Mets this year are also a popular sentiment among the fans.
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