The Red Sox and Reds have announced a deal that will send outfielder Tommy Pham to Boston. Cincinnati will receive a player to be named later or cash considerations in return.
It’s a bit of a surprising move for a Boston team that just agreed to deal away its primary catcher, Christian Vázquez, to the Astros. Yet Red Sox president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom has maintained they’re not approaching the deadline with a strict “buyer’s” or “seller’s” mentality. Rather, Boston has taken a flexible approach that has seen them ship out Vázquez and listen to offers on designated hitter J.D. Martinez while bringing in players like Pham and backstop Reese McGuire. The Sox enter play Monday 3 1/2 games out in the American League Wild Card race, leaving them to navigate a difficult position for the stretch run.
Boston is trying to thread a needle of gaining some long-term talent while not completely punting on the 2022 campaign, and it stands to reason further moves are on the horizon. In Pham, they add a right-handed bat to a corner outfield mix that has been very disappointing. Left fielder Alex Verdugo has underwhelmed to the tune of a .269/.308/.376 showing with just six homers in 402 plate appearances. The club’s right fielders — primarily Jackie Bradley Jr. — are hitting .199/.262/.316.
Pham, who signed a one-year deal with the Reds in Spring Training, has been a bit more productive than Boston’s incumbent corner outfielders. The 34-year-old owns a .238/.320/.374 line with 11 homers in 387 trips to the plate. His 10.9% walk rate, while a career low, is still a bit better than league average. He consistently makes a fair amount of hard contact, although his power output hasn’t aligned with his above-average exit velocities. That’s largely because Pham hits plenty of ground-balls, but he should nevertheless represent an offensive improvement over the Sox’s internal options.
With Cincinnati, Pham played exclusively left field or designated hitter. He figures to see the bulk of his playing time in Fenway in left, with Verdugo presumably kicking to right field and curtailing Bradley’s playing time. Bloom was in the Rays front office during Pham’s peak days with Tampa Bay, and he’s clearly hopeful the veteran outfielder can rediscover something resembling that productive form.
Pham is making $6MM this season, with a bit more than $2MM of that left to be paid. There’s no mention of cash considerations, so it seems Cincinnati will save a bit of money for stretch run. The Reds are likely to get a minor prospect for a player who’d been slated to hit the free agent market after this season.
Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic first reported the Reds were in agreement on a Pham trade. Mark Feinsand of MLB.com named the Red Sox as one of two finalists for Pham. Jim Bowden of the Athletic first reported the Red Sox were acquiring Pham. C. Trent Rosecrans of the Athletic reported the Reds were receiving a player to be named later.
Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
Giants?
Please let it be San Francisco.
That would have been a real slap in the face.
Acquiring team unknown reds just know they’re trading him lol
“You’re traded Tommy, have a seat today.”
“Where to Skip?”
“Somebody. Soon.”
Boston fans are going to chew Pham up and spit him out.
Yes we are….Tommy Pham is going to actually show he’s capable of being part of a team or the most brutal sports fans in the country will destroy him. Just ask Kyrie Irving about Boston sports fans.
Yeah the same sports fans who used to vandalize Bill Russell’s home. Great tradition
I can hear the n words already.
Bro
The A’s. Please be the A’s
Brewers or Seattle I say
Y’all couldn’t hold up to post the story until you knew the team? Smh.
It’s being reported. Why would they wait? Makes no sense.
Because Pham was going to be traded by the deadline. He was a definite. Reporters act like it’s the best thing in the world to be the first to report something. The first to report isn’t nearly as important as the first to report correctly. Being accurate with an easy to navigate website that doesn’t bog my phone down with ads gets my clicks every time. Regardless of whomever is first.
BlueJays
By gawd that’s shatkins music…. Also please let Zimmer be going the other way
We know it’s not going to be the Giants unless they trade Peterson
Astros
And the mystery team has finally awakened from its slumber. Bout time.
Atlanta Braves would be my guess. They said they wanted to add another outfielder at the deadline.
I’m sure that would make Joc Pederson really unhappy…
No way Giants…
Please say Giants, PLEASE!
It’s the Padres
I don’t cuss alot… but **** no!!
Funniest headline in a long long time!
But seriously, is this not the strangest deadline I’m recent memory?? Hader gone, Mancini gone, pham now but with no apparent team… it’s fun though lol
Nippon Ham Fighters?
I think we can rule out the Giants.
Could he be headed back to TB? Reds are wheeling and dealing
Also another good suggestion
Love me a mystery team
Yankees for hoey gallo sources telling me
If history is any indicator…
Reds —> Mariners
Please, not this time.
Please god don’t let it be the Braves!
If it’s the Giants, maybe he and Joc could co-own a fantasy team.
The Joc-o Tacos!!! (Maybe somebody in Cincy understands the obscure Pham and Choco Taco reference?)
The choco taco just went out of production. Get em while you can.
That’s awesome….haha
I’m sure he will help some team progress into the postseason. Seattle maybe? Just throwing out a guess there.
Pleaaaaase don’t be the Padres!!
It should be interesting with Pham and Voit on the same team.
I doubt it. He ran over Kim and another infielder on a short fly to LF and then yelled at Kim in the dugout even tho it was Pham’s fault. Then there is the stabbing outside the “closed” (c19) strip club where he went “for dinner” in 2020. Then there is the part where he sucked for 75% of his time in SD.
Then again AJP traded for Adam Miller last year but inexplicably no SP.
Who’s Adam Miller?
I assume he meant Adam Frazier and fell victim to a spellcheck.
Reds front office having trouble figuring out how these trade deals work.
really?…id say so far Reds have done great with trades.
What front office? The phone is still ringing as the one person went home for the evening.
Just getting rid of the 2.5M$ owed this season and the 1.5M$ buyout is a win for the Reds FO.
Phils with Mahale.
Brewers
Watching the reds game. No word yet
Imagine if it was the Jays, not likely, but hey, if it happens, I’m gonna laugh at my own joke!!!
Just letting the league know that whomever calls first gets him for whatever they want to pay.
probably the white sox. i hope its not the white sox
Ah yes the fabled TTBNL
Mets
This smells like Milwaukee
“Unknown” mlb team still better than the known Giants team
Back to STL. Hmmm
To shouldn’t even be a cardinals fan for that comment.Be happy he’s someone else’s problem now.
They’re letting Tommy place bets on where he’s been traded before they tell him
And Pure Platinums!!
Why report this if you don’t have little details, like say, who the acquiring team is? That’s kinda important. This is reporting for the sake of reporting and being “first”. “I was the FIRST to report Tommy Pham was traded!!!!” Yay!!!!
It’s like Paul Revere riding around Boston saying “They’re coming! They’re coming! I don’t know who, but they’re coming!!”
No, it’s not like the Revolutionary War
Wow, what a great trade for [REDACTED]!
Starting a new team? The Pham club?
What a cliff hanger
Very mysterious and spooky
User name checks out!
Mets.
To Ron to Ron to run his mouth on all your candy a…..
This won’t be a major impact piece for the mystery team, but a little depth never hurt anybody.
That’s what she said.
Mets or redsox apparently
MLB network thinks Mets or Red Sox.
Nick Krall talking to Tommy Pham on the phone–“Hi Tommy, this is Nick, Nick Krall the GM. We traded you. Can’t divulge the team yet but don’t suit up. Pack your bags and we will have a staffer take you to Miami International and will let you know when you get there where you are heading…….No, this is not a joke…. Just pack up and thanks for everything.
This – thanks for the laugh
Horrible trade – CIN got fleeced.
Great trade – CIN fleeced them!
Wow – a fair trade!!
Does that cover it?
It’s like one of those mystery squares in Super Mario. Nick Krall is going to jump up and punch it, and see what team comes out.
Mets or redox
Maybe he’ll be on the Gong Show.
Seeing rumors that it’s the Mets or Red Sox..
TTBNL
California Penal League
It’s apparently going to be either the Red Sox or Mets!!
Traded him to a strip club
Dude gets down. Not knowing is torture for us all, but none more than Luke and Joc.
Ah just learned it’s the dirty socks.
And the Red Sox have pulled the shortest straw!!
Probably the Red Sox, won’t make any sense lol
We have a winner
Well, where’s he going??!! It’s important!
Not necessarily for the pennant race, but I need to notify him of our upcoming fantasy draft.
If you’re a Reds fan it’s not important where he goes, just as long as he goes.
To somebody’s AAA club most likely.
How does Ken Rosenthal not know who the Red Sox are?
Damn it
Red Sox new DH?
Damn it…
Ughh
That’s a slap in the face..
The Red Sox got Pham to fill the void of JD’s departure and Jackie’s DFA or seat on the pine.
That’s not a good thing though
Chaim your about to get run out of Boston for bone head moves like this!
Can he catch?
I feel like the Tools of Ignorance were made for Tommy Pham… good luck Beantown!
Replace jd martinez
As an unbiased observer, as I care for neither team involved in this trade and don’t believe the Red Sox are a viable Wild Card candidate, I must ask: WHY? What is the point of this trade?
Duned – Sox have a $6M mutual option on him for next year, that’s why.
Doesn’t give them any control, though, of the player. Mutual options take two to tango!
You really actually want this guy another year? Hope you get him. One less team to worry about next year.
But……………why?
Good riddance psychopath
Scratching my head at this one.
Next up Puig to the Red Sox!
I smell a 3 team deal with the Mets involving JD. Otherwise, I’m not seeing the sense in this from the Sox perspective..
I know it’s to the Sox but I wish it was to the Giants
Ha whoops, redsox
Setting the table for a JD trade?
Possible.
Maybe there’s more players involved?
Was hoping the Angels so he can be reunited with Trout.
This is literally because they hate him
I would say that he manufactures all the smoke he gets… loved him when he arrived in SD but loved him leaving even more.
No argument here
Weird move. Pham is a good player but is he better than current Sox OFs?
Yeah, when I want to right the ship and stabilize the roster, the first name that comes to my mind is Tommy Pham.
ROFL!
Hmmm, Pham in RF or does he push Verdugo to RF and play LF? JBJ back in CF?
Guess Tommy can take a stab at playing in Boston. That city sure is a cut above the rest of them.
Sityodtong Muay Thai Academy, Boston, they got mma, bjj too, or whatever
Pham has an option for next year so it may have as much to do with next year, I think it’s only like $6 or $7m.
$6 sounds about right.
Mutual option, which Pham probably will decline.
Pham shouldn’t decline his half, he’s not getting 7.5M$ (=6M$+1.5M$byout) on the open market.
Usually the player gets the buyout on a mutual option regardless of whether the player or team declines. Pham would break even by declining the option if he thinks he can get $4.5M next season.
I’m sure Sox fans are excited about having a class act like Pham on their team. Strip Clubs in the Boston area are officially on notice.
Plus we got McGuire to go with him. Looks like we’re going for the all asshat team
Redsoxx_62 keep your head up homie. Every time Boston “sells off” they generally rebound quickly and win again.
Boston fans loved the “Joe Kelley fight club” they will really get a kick out of Tommy Pham slapping opposing players before the game.
Trade pending Pham’s assessment of Boston area strip joints.
I think Mo Vaughn is still in charge down there. They may need is approval. And don’t forget those who will say, “Hey, he was just stabbed, Papi was shot. Pham is obviously going to HOF!”
Better get houck or Whitlock back or reds fans riot.
Lol you act like Pham is a good product…. he was once upon a time but he is now worth possibly a bowl of skyline chili at best
The Reds are happy just to unload Pham’s remaining salary and mutual option. Anything in return is a bonus.
‘he’ll hit better than jackie bradley at 199’
YA THINK???????????
Don’t be so sure about that
This tells me that the Red Sox have REALLY fallen on hard times.
What a slap in the face
Reds are getting a bag of chips, off brand. Bob c was happy with the deal. Bob loves dropping payroll.
Why pay 3M$ more for a 99 loss team instead of a 100 loss team. That’s just bad business.
mrkinsm
Why pay 3M$ more for a 99 loss team instead of a 100 loss team.
==================================
The Reds have quietly put together a nice, albeit very young, team, and have won 13 of their last 20. O don’t trust them to take the next step and spend money, but the Reds are a bit like the Orioles were last year.
Love how half the comments are fans of teams hoping Pham ISNT coming there lol
Not to mention, fans of local nighteries.
As a Cardinals fan count me as one who’s glad he’s long gone lol
So the Reds are getting Crash Davis.
DFA Bloom
I don’t think Pham has had an extra base hit in like 7 weeks.
He did have a great assist the other day. He’s had his offensive moments (in multiple senses), a few timely hits; but middling numbers. he does have spirit, lol.
Still not sure on this… something tells me Bloom isn’t done. We basically got Pham for nothing, I’m not sure of Chaims moves without what’s coming next.
Absolutely loving the Bloom hire at this point. Keep up the good work Chaim lol
Reds TV reporting traded for the iconic “player to be named later”……..Maybe it’ll turn out to be…..Pham.
he was signed for 2 reasons- to be included in a trade by tommorow or to be gone after 2 months, either way come april of 2023 you will forget who this guy ever was
Congrats Boston you get the biggest cancer of a teammate
Add this move to the bad list for Bloom…
Why? Why did the Red Sox trade Hunter Renfroe for Jackie Bradley, Jr.?
Now they basically have Tommy Phan instead of Renfroe who is 3x the player, younger. and certainly cheaper than Bradley and maybe Phan.
Because there were prospects included in the Renfroe deal. If we are still going back to this, it’s no point. Even if we had Renfroe, we wouldn’t be substantially better. It was a trade for the future.
Good riddance
They didn’t like something about him, at least it seemed that way.
First of all, y’all have a short memory! Padres let Pham’s gangsta non-producing tail go as a FA at the end of last season.
So before the Red Sox news came out, Shame on ya! Now…Shame on ya, Red Sox for picking up this bum!
Dude gets stabbed in SD. Slaps a man in Cincy, what’s next…shot in Bean town?
My man is a thug!
Survived Tampa
Weird move. Pham is gonna lose it when he receives the racist taunts Boaton Is known for. Bad move
It’s part of his self-proclaimed 2022 “Revenge Tour”. Likely he’s also a road rage driver, so he’s gonna love the arcane Boston street logic.
phlubhouse phancer
So the sox pick up a guy stabbed in a strip club parking lot and a guy that was convicted of wanking off in public.
Maybe we can get D. Watson to throw out the next pitch next year.
Does the chip on Pham’s shoulder require an additional roster spot?
Pham is just another slightly above average guy caught up in the exit velo launch angle world. His average and measurables took a hit for more power. Problem is he never gained more power. Glad Cardinals traded him when they did.
Pham? Should have pulled Adam Jones out of forced retirement
From the abundance of incomprehensible comments up top, I’m guessing this story has been edited since it first appeared and the headline changed, amirite?
Yes my friend, a classic headline that read “Tommy Pham traded to Mystery Team” with the ubiquitous “more to come…” haha
no, this is haim getting anybody that wears a uniform so tommorow he can do an akward interview saying ‘ we got guys that ‘ under the hood’ have untapped potential’ hes been here 3 years and this crap is all he knows, I dont know how long his contract his, but if they completely miss every play off chance, wildcard etc, i dont see him being back, i dont count last years success on anything he did, the sox got deep in the playoffs with guys that had nothing to do with him. Im really not blaiming him, this isnt what he knows, he wants to run a smaller market team thats more based on numbers, thats what he knows, thats why teams like the yankees astros dodgers etc wouldnt ever want him, its not in him to go outside the organization to sign big name players
the sox got deep in the playoffs with guys that had nothing to do with him.
===================================
Just so I understand, you’re saying that Verdugo, Kiki, Renfroe, Schwarber, Pivetta, Ottavino, Sawamura, and Whitlock had nothing to do with Bloom?
and Tommy Phan will probaly be traded later today so i wouldnt get to upset by the deal
i understand you all hate him but whats with all the hate for the city of boston? this is actually a great place to live
He has a 6 million dollar mutual option for 2023 that could easily be picked up on both ends. Stop saying it’s a “1 year deal” and that he is “slated to hit the FA market after this season”
OK, Al Avila for HALF A BUCKET OF DOOLEYS’.
ANY TAKERS?