MLB Trade Rumors: 2 Teams To Battle Over White Sox Outfielder Tommy Pham

For the third straight season, outfielder Tommy Pham is destined to be a hired gun, a trade deadline acquisition for a team hoping to boost its playoff stock. It paid off handsomely for the Arizona Diamondbacks last year, as Pham helped them down the stretch to lock in a postseason berth, and then had some tremendous numbers on the Snakes' run to the World Series, batting .429 in the ALDS and .421 with a 1.165 OPS in the Fall Classic.

There are two teams poised to battle over Pham's services from the Chicago White Sox as we get closer to the trade deadline, per insider Robert Murray of Fansided. And it sounds like a David vs. Goliath battle: One is a powerhouse presumed World Series contender, while the other is an upstart, surprise team on an unexpected playoff push in 2024.

Atlanta Braves

It's well known that the Braves have lost superstar Ronald Acuna Jr. for the rest of the campaign after his second devastating season-ending injury in four years. The first time this happened, in 2021, Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos went out and acquired some very serviceable outfield help to patch up the void, and two of them (Eddie Rosario and Jorge Soler) went on to win NLCS and World Series MVP awards, respectively.

Could AA replicate that success with Pham? His playoff performance last year suggests that he's not fazed by the bright lights of October, and he should be a great fit in Atlanta.

Kansas City Royals

This is the 'David' to the Braves' 'Goliath'. The Royals have risen to prominence (or at least, to playoff contention) much quicker than expected in their rebuild, though a recent 3-7 swoon has them just clinging to the final Wild Card spot, just one game up on the Boston Red Sox, with the frightening shadows of the Texas Rangers, Houston Astros and Tampa Bay Rays lurking just four back in the loss column.

The Royals need to do something solid to hold their ground. Their outfield could use some help, and Pham could provide it.