Alright, so get this: the Philadelphia Phillies are shipping veteran outfielder Tommy Pham over to the Chicago White Sox. And they’re doing it for cash considerations, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan and James Fegan from the Chicago Sun-Times. This isn’t just a regular ol’ trade, though. The White Sox, believe it or not, are actually expected to be playing baseball in October. Like, seriously. If the season wrapped up today, they’d snag a bye, which is absolutely wild to even think about for them.
The Deadline-Dodging Swap for a Playoff-Bound Team
Pham has had one of those seasons where he’s bounced around more than a super ball. He’s already spent time with the New York Mets and the Baltimore Orioles this year before the Phillies scooped him up on a minor league deal back in June. And here’s the kicker: because the Phillies never called him up to the big leagues after that minor league signing, he’s actually eligible for this trade, even though the official trade deadline has passed. How wild is that for a loophole? It means he’s getting picked up right before September 1, making him totally eligible to play in the postseason. That’s a huge deal for a White Sox team that’s somehow found itself in a prime October position.
A 13-Year Vet With a .775 Minor League OPS But Zero Major League Hits This Season
Now, let’s talk about Pham’s bat. This year, in the nine big league games he played, all with the Mets, he went hitless. Zero for nine. That’s a tough look, no doubt. But here’s the twist: he’s put up a solid .775 OPS in the minor leagues this season. So, is he just a guy who needs a fresh start, or is this a deep bench move? Pham’s got history, too. He was with the White Sox in 2024, posting a .710 OPS in 70 games. Last season with the Pittsburgh Pirates, he had a .700 OPS. We’re talking about a 13-year veteran here, someone with 149 career home runs under his belt. The White Sox are clearly eyeing that veteran presence, hoping he can be that right-handed bat off the bench who can also cover left field for them.
Pham is expected to get activated to the active roster when rosters expand on Tuesday. So, the question is, what can this 13-year veteran bring to a White Sox squad that’s suddenly got October on lock? With that bye already in the bag, it’s all about fine-tuning for the postseason, and adding a veteran bat with a track record, even if this season has been a bit of a mixed bag, could be exactly what they’re looking for. It’s not the only move of the moment either; the Orioles also reportedly claimed Luis Robert Jr. from waivers during their own recent hot streak. It’s crunch time, baby!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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