HOUSTON – The best White Sox team in five years is reuniting with a member of the worst Sox team ever.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan first reported that the Sox are acquiring 38-year-old outfielder Tommy Pham from the Phillies, with the intention of activating the 13-year MLB veteran when rosters expand to 28 on Tuesday, Sept. 1. A source confirmed the deal to the Sun-Times, which will see cash sent to Philadelphia in exchange.
Pham has only appeared in nine games in the majors this year, going 0-for-13 with a walk and seven strikeouts for the Mets this April before being designated for assignment. He has since spent time in the Orioles and Phillies’ minor league systems, most recently hitting .250/.381/.391 in 44 games with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Because he was on a minor league deal with the Phillies and not on their 40-man roster, Pham is eligible to be dealt after the Aug. 3 trade deadline, and could be postseason eligible for the White Sox when he is added on Sept. 1.
With a .710 OPS in 70 games during his previous stint with the Sox, Pham was an oasis of stability in the desert of historic offensive ineptitude that was the 2024 offense. As the Sox shopped what little wares they had at the ‘24 trade deadline, Pham was packaged alongside Erick Fedde (who has also since returned to the South Side) in a three-team trade with the Cardinals and Dodgers that brought All-Star third baseman Miguel Vargas and two minor league infielders to the White Sox. Pham also had a significant role in the stretch run of the Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2023 National League pennant-winning season, where he overlapped with current White Sox assistant general manager Josh Barfield.
At this stage of his career, Pham provides a useful corner outfield bat against left-handed pitching. While Randal Grichuk has excelled in a specialist role of slugging against lefties (.311/.350/.636 against southpaws on the year), the Sox DFA’d both Everson Pereira and Austin Hays earlier in the month to make room for glove-first centerfielder Brenton Doyle in center. Pham has a .796 career OPS against lefties, and his minor league production this year has been tilted toward his encounters with southpaws.
His addition figures to be one of just many Sox roster moves, given both roster expansion and multiple key contributors set to return from injury.
Tyler swap
A swap of left-handed relievers named Tyler on Monday morning kickstarted the activity ahead of the Sox’ four-game series in Houston.
Tyler Schweitzer was activated from the paternity list on Monday, taking the roster spot of Tyler Gilbert, who was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte after being charged with one run allowed in 2 1/3 innings of Sunday’s 5-1 loss to the Twins. Schweitzer, 25, has filled a niche with a 3.64 ERA in 29 2/3 innings of low-leverage long relief work in his rookie season.
Martin and Teel on the mend
Davis Martin is set to return from the injured list (middle finger blister) and start Wednesday’s game against the Astros, after firing five scoreless innings in his lone Triple-A rehab outing last Thursday.
Kyle Teel (left ankle sprain) went 3-for-4 on Sunday and caught all nine innings for the first time since beginning his Triple-A rehab assignment. He is also likely to return this week.