Tommy Pham Signs Free Agent Deal in NL Central Division

Veteran outfielder Tommy Pham played a key part in the Arizona Diamondbacks' run to the World Series in 2023, but he couldn't recapture that mojo at any of his three stops in 2024 with Kansas City, the Chicago White Sox or his old alma mater the St. Louis Cardinals.

He has now, however, landed himself a $4 million free agent deal back in the NL Central Division with the Pittsburgh Pirates for 2025.

Free-agent outfielder Tommy Pham is in agreement on a one-year, $4 million contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates, multiple sources tell @Ken_Rosenthal and me. https://t.co/vwBbLkb2lp Journeyman outfielder Tommy Pham signs 1-year deal with Pittsburgh Pirates: Sources
— Katie Woo (@katiejwoo) February 6, 2025

The Pirates were interested in Pham last spring as well but he chose to sign with the White Sox on a minor league deal.

Now, per Katie Woo in The Athletic, he'll likely serve as a platoon bat against left-handers in the Pittsburgh outfield, where he'll join Oneil Cruz (moved from shortstop), Andrew McCutchen and Bryan Reynolds.

Pham joins his 10th major league team, and is going into his age-37 season, coming off a year split between three teams in which he had a .674 OPS. Some Pirates fans aren't overly excited about the journeyman's addition to the outfield.

Tommy Pham is an MLB OF that meets the Pirates minimum requirement of being alive and willing to take a cheap contract. Not that good so let’s not hype this up please
— Jared (@JaredLankes) February 6, 2025