Free Agent Tommy Pham Signs With Surprise Team

After an offseason of subtracting talent from their roster—trading some key players and watching others leave in free agency—the Cincinnati Reds have finally made a move to reverse the trend, signing free agent outfielder Tommy Pham. 

One of the last viable free agent "names" on the market, Pham will help give a boost to a Reds' team that it's in dire need of it. It's a one-year, $6M contract with a $1.5M mutual option for 2023, bringing the total guaranteed value to $7.5M.

The 34-year-old Pham is the prototypical "bet on yourself" type of player. He has ultimate confidence in his abilities, and coming off a disappointing year in San Diego where he hit just .229, he likely figures this one-year showing in the hitter-friendly Great American Ballpark will get him back on the market next offseason with some much better numbers. 

To wit, in his 101 career at-bats in Cincinnati, Pham has posted a whopping .366 average, with an equally-stunning .449 on-base and .954 OPS. 

He was able to hit 15 HR and steal 14 bases with the Padres last season, and still had a .340 on-base percentage, so he'll be bringing a nice mix of pop, speed and energy to the top of the Reds' lineup. 

Photo Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports