The Philadelphia Phillies are reportedly targeting Chicago White Sox outfielder Tommy Pham at the trade deadline. With the White Sox well, well out of the postseason race, Pham could be headed to his sixth team in the span of three seasons.

Pham is currently batting .264 with four home runs on a White Sox team doomed to a historically poor finish by season’s end. At the All-Star break, Chicago is 27-71 and 27.5 games out of the Wild Card. The team is on pace to lose nearly 120 games. Any price for Pham, a 36-year-old journeyman, would be worth taking for the team.

With a 62-34 record, the Phillies are on the opposite end of the spectrum, firmly in control of the N.L. East division and one of two National League teams seemingly in contention for a World Series berth. The team has plenty of talent in the outfield between Nick Castellanos and Brandon Marsh, but an injury to star Bryce Harper did impact the team’s depth. Pham could be an ideal short-term pickup.

In addition to the Phillies, the Royals are also reportedly interested in trading for Pham at the end of this month. Kansas City has overperformed in 2024 and are just two games out of the Wild Card at the All-Star break. The team are sure to consider buying at the deadline, and Pham has been a hot commodity for budget-conscious teams in recent years.

If Pham were to join Philadelphia, it would be his ninth team since debuting in 2014. In 2022, he spent time with the Reds before the Red Sox acquired him for a playoff push. The Arizona Diamondbacks did the same thing in 2023, trading with the Mets to acquire him before going to the World Series. At this point, there is no seller in a more dire situation than the 2024 White Sox, making yet another trade highly likely.

Pham has gained a reputation in recent years as an outspoken club member, for better or worse. It is unclear whether his frequent moves are a result of this or simply a matter of circumstance. Regardless, he has proven capable of contributing to winning teams in search of a postseason run, making him a valuable addition despite his advancing age.

Veteran outfielder Tommy Pham reached a minor-league deal with the Chicago White Sox worth $3.5 million with $1.5 million in incentives. Pham must be called up and added to the White Sox MLB roster by April 25, or he can request a release. If traded, he will receive a $500,000 assignment bonus.

Pham is out of options to sign with another team straight up, so the minor-league designation is necessary. He will first need to pass through waivers to be in the minor leagues before stepping up to the plate in the MLB. This way, Pham can get back into the game despite missing the season’s first few weeks and avoid roster complications.

Pham, 36, began his career in 2014 with the St. Louis Cardinals and spent five years there before spending time with the Tampa Bay Rays, San Diego Padres, Boston Red Sox, Cincinnati Reds, New York Mets, and most recently with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Pham had his most productive season in years in 2023. He hit .256/.328/.446 (111 OPS+) with 16 home runs and 68 RBIs in 129 games split between the Mets and Diamondbacks.

Entering the offseason, CBS ranked him as the 34th-best free agent available.

“Two things are certain about Pham: He’s going to hit the ball hard, and he’s going to wear out the middle of the field,” it said. “Nearly half his batted balls last season clocked in at 95 mph or faster, and more than 40% were aimed straight ahead. That combination resulted in Pham’s best OPS+ since 2019 when he was a member of the Rays. He’s played for five teams during the interim years, suggesting that if there’s a third thing for sure about him, he will continue changing clubhouses.”

With the White Sox currently missing outfielders Luis Robert Jr. and Eloy Jiménez, Pham is expected to give their lineup a much-needed boost. The Sox have started the season slow and currently hold a 3-15 record. They were shut out six times in 18 games. Thus, it’s fair to think that Pham might change teams again ahead of the trade deadline, provided he can offer that boost to the lineup for the White Sox over the next few months.

Sand Diego Padres’ outfielder Tommy Pham was stabbed on Sunday night in the lower back following an altercation. Reportedly, two men were having an argument near Pham’s car, and when he approached them and asked them to move one of them stabbed Pham in the lower back and no major organs were hit.

Pham, 32, is in good condition and expected to make a full recovery after only needing stitches to sew up the wound. “I’d like to thank the incredible medical staff at UC San Diego Health for taking such great care of me last night,” Pham said in a statement. “I truly appreciate the hard work of the [San Diego Police Department] as well as they continue their search for the suspects. While it was a very traumatic and eye-opening experience for me, I’m on the road to recovery and I know I’ll be back to my offseason training routine in no time.”

This comes three days after the Padres’ were ousted from the MLB playoffs by the Los Angeles Dodgers 0-3, where Pham batted 3-11.