This page may contain affiliate links. If you click and sign up, make a deposit, or place a wager, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Pham elected to become a free agent Wednesday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Pham cleared waivers after being removed from the Mets' 40-man roster but has opted for free agency rather than accepting an outright assignment to Triple-A Syracuse. The veteran outfielder went hitless in 13 at-bats during his brief time with the Mets. Pham turned 38 in March and will likely have to settle for a minor-league contract if he wants to continue his playing career.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Tommy Pham: Dropped from 40-man roster
Rotowire
The Mets designated Pham for assignment following Sunday's doubleheader against the Rockies, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.
Pham went 0-for-2 with a strikeout in the team's 3-1 loss to Colorado in the matinee of Sunday's doubleheader and didn't appear in the nightcap, which New York also lost, 3-0. The outfielder went 0-for-13 with a run scored, a walk and seven punchouts while appearing in nine contests with the Mets after having his contract selected April 13. Pham will now be placed on waivers, and if he goes unclaimed, he'll have the opportunity to either elect free agency or report to Triple-A Syracuse.
Cubs' Caleb Thielbar: Locks down first save Saturday
Rotowire
Thielbar struck out two in a perfect ninth inning Saturday to record his first save of the season in a 4-2 win over the Mets.
Daniel Palencia (oblique) landed on the IL on Friday, and Thielbar got the call for the Cubs' first save chance in his absence with two left-handed hitters due up for the Mets in the ninth. While the veteran southpaw didn't end up facing either of them as New York emptied its bench for pinch hitters Tommy Pham and Tyrone Taylor, Thielbar still got the job done. It's not yet clear how Cubs manager Craig Counsell intends to navigate closing situations without Palencia, but Thielbar has staked a strong early claim to being the primary option. Through eight appearances and seven innings this season, he sports a 2.57 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 10:4 K:BB.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Tommy Pham: Added to big-league roster
Rotowire
The Mets selected Pham's contract from Single-A St. Lucie on Monday.
Signed to a minor-league contract in late March, Pham knocked some rust off in the minors with five games at St. Lucie, going 2-for-12 with a 3:3 K:BB. The Mets figure to use the 38-year-old outfielder primarily against left-handed pitching.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Tommy Pham: Expected to be called up Monday
Rotowire
Pham is expected to be called up to the Mets' major-league roster Monday, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.
Pham will join the big-league club ahead of New York's three-game set on the road against the Dodgers. The 38-year-old will provide the team with an additional option in the outfield with Juan Soto (calf) still sidelined. Pham signed a minor-league contract with the Mets in late March, so he'll have to be added to the 40-man roster before being called up.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Tommy Pham: Could be ready by next week
Rotowire
Pham is set to play for Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday, and he made need only 3-5 games in the minors before being ready for a promotion, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.
The Mets suddenly have an opening in left field with Juan Soto (calf) landing on the IL, and Pham could be an option to fill in as soon as next week. In the meantime, Brett Baty (thumb), Tyrone Taylor and Jared Young will split the available corner-outfield reps. The 38-year-old Pham slashed .245/.330/.370 over 120 games for the Pirates last season with 10 homers, five steals, 44 runs and 52 RBI.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Tommy Pham: Grabs MiLB deal from Mets
Rotowire
The Mets signed Pham to a minor-league contract Thursday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.
Pham will be paid $2.25 million if he gets onto the major-league roster and has an April 25 opt-out date. The 38-year-old outfielder presumably will report to Triple-A Syracuse soon and is a good bet to be called up in the coming weeks if the Mets like what they see. Pham slashed .245/.330/.370 with 10 home runs and five stolen bases over 120 games with the Pirates in 2025.
... See More... See Less
Tommy Pham: Played through plantar fasciitis
Rotowire
Pham revealed that he's played though plantar fasciitis since the second half of the 2023 season, Will Sammon, Ken Rosenthal and Katie Woo of The Athletic report.
Pham said the foot issue first cropped up about one month after he was traded to the Diamondbacks at the 2023 deadline, and it has led to a lack of aggressiveness on the basepaths. The 37-year-old outfielder has only 12 steals on 18 attempts over the last two regular seasons. Pham believes his plantar fasciitis has been addressed after he underwent stem cell therapy earlier this offseason, and he is setting a goal of reaching 200 home runs and 200 stolen bases for his career. Given that he will turn 38 in March and sits at 149 homers and 131 steals, it is a lofty goal. Pham is a free agent after slashing .245/.330/.370 with the Pirates in 2025.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Tommy Pham: Smacks 10th homer
Rotowire
Pham went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run Friday against Atlanta.
Pham drew his third straight start, two of which have come against lefties. He smacked his 10th home run of the season in the second inning, six of which have come since the All-Star break. Pham is wrapping up a mediocre season in Pittsburgh, as he has a 93 wRC+ across 444 plate appearances.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Tommy Pham: Playing time dwindling
Rotowire
Pham is not in the lineup for Tuesday's contest in Cincinnati.
Pham is in a deep slump, having gone hitless over his last eight games. As a result, he will yield left field to Jack Suwinski for the fourth time over the last five games versus right-handed pitching.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Tommy Pham: On bench Sunday
Rotowire
Pham is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Athletics.
Pham will take a seat for the second time in the series. The veteran outfielder has had a tough finish to the season, as he's gone hitless in his last 25 at-bats over his past eight games to bring his average down to .243.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Tommy Pham: Not starting Friday
Rotowire
Pham is out of the lineup for Friday's game versus the Athletics.
Since homering Sept. 9, Pham has gone hitless in his last six games. Jack Suwinski will patrol left field and bat seventh in Pham's stead.
Pham is absent from the lineup for Friday's contest against the Nationals.
It's a routine day of rest for Pham. The Pirates will roll with Ji Hwan Bae as their left fielder and No. 8 hitter in Friday's series opener.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Tommy Pham: Provides clutch homer
Rotowire
Pham went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in Tuesday's loss to the Orioles.
Pham tied things up in the ninth with a solo home run that would send the game to extras. He's now hit safely in 13 of his last 16 games and piled up 16 RBI over that span. The homer was his first of the month and his fifth since the beginning of August.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Tommy Pham: Resting Sunday
Rotowire
Pham is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers.
Pham will get a breather after going 9-for-39 (.231) with one home run, three doubles, three walks, 11 RBI and four runs while starting each of the last 10 games. With Pham on the bench for the series finale, the newly recalled Ji Hwan Bae will pick up a start in left field.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Tommy Pham: Piling up RBI
Rotowire
Pham went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored Tuesday against the Dodgers.
Pham accounted for most of his production in the first inning with a two-RBI double. The performance extended his hitting streak to six games, and he has at least one hit in 11 of his last 13 games. In that 13-game span, Pham has 14 RBI and nine runs scored while hitting .292.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Tommy Pham: Knocks in two-run double
Rotowire
Pham went 1-for-3 with a two-run double and a run scored during the Pirates' 4-2 win over the Red Sox on Friday.
Pham got the Pirates on the board in the sixth inning with a double to center field that plated two, and he was brought home one batter later on an Andrew McCutchen RBI double. Pham has recorded at least one hit in seven of his last eight games, and over that span he has gone 9-for-28 (.321) with one steal, two home runs and nine RBI.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Tommy Pham: Pops eighth homer
Rotowire
Pham went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Thursday against the Cardinals.
Pham slugged the homer in the first inning, his eighth of the season. Three of those long balls have come in his last nine starts, while half have come since Aug. 1. After a dreadful start to the season, Pham is hitting .309 with 20 RBI, 19 runs scored and two stolen bases across 41 contests since the start of July.
