By Mark Halpern
In the wake of the Carlos Correa debacle almost two weeks ago, the Mets were looking again for another position player to add to this already impressive team. The Mets signed OF Tommy Pham today to a one-year $6 million contract, pending physical.
Tommy Pham came up in the St Louis organization making his debut in 2014 and played for the Cardinals until 2018 when he was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays in late 2018. He played for the Rays until the shortened 2020 season when he signed with the Padres until 2022. He split the 2022 season with the Reds and Red Sox. Pham, over his career, has become a solid hitter with good defense, above average speed, great vision on the basepath, and hits lefties well (which is something the Mets needed.) Pham’s speed is ideal for Citi field as the Stadium does yield Home Runs, but more doubles and triples, and that plays to Pham’s talent. He has a .354 OBP, which is ideal for scoring runs and accruing stolen bases. Pham had only had nine last year but 25 in 2019, a stat the Mets need more than what they had last year.
He will be in the outfield mix that already includes 3-star players. Pham will join Leftfielder Mark Canha (Can do, Can do, Gary says Mark Canha can do), Center Fielder Brandon Nimmo, and Right Fielder Starling Marte. A great importance is that Pham has played some Centerfield but has mostly played the corner outfield positions. The Mets will probably use him as a left-handed Designated Hitter at times, as he hits lefties better than righties.
Some fans might see this as a weaker signing, but this (after Duvall and Mancini were signed) signing meets more needs than certain fans realize. Billy Eppler and Steve Cohen have done a magnificent job putting this team on the field, and this doesn’t mean that the Mets won’t sign or trade for another big bat, and that’s how the old man sees it.
The Sports Insanity Network 