With the Arizona Diamondbacks’ shocking run to the World Series, they have received star-level production from multiple players, including one who wasn’t even on their roster to begin the season: Tommy Pham.
Now in his 10th season at the Major League Level, Pham signed with the New York Mets this past offseason and produced well. However, when the Mets became sellers at the trade deadline, Pham was dealt to the D-Backs.
The Los Angeles Dodgers reportedly had interest in acquiring Pham during the deadline, but instead added Kiké Hernández and Amed Rosario to their position player group.
If Pham had his way during the offseason, the Dodgers would have already had him in the fold. During the offseason, Pham twice made an effort to sign with the Dodgers, being rejected both times by president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, via Jorge Castillo of the L.A. Times:
As Pham addressed it at Thursday’s World Series media day, he instructed his agent to call Andrew Friedman twice during the offseason when he was looking for a job. During the process, he said he heard from Dodgers players he knew telling him to try to make joining Los Angeles happen. Both times, according to Pham, the Dodgers’ president of baseball operations said no.
Pham went on to have a strong 2023 season, batting .256/.328/.446 with 16 home runs, 55 runs scored, 68 RBI and a 110 wRC+ across 129 games.
He backed that up with a strong offensive profile, finishing in the top 85% or higher in expected wOBA, expected batting average, average exit velocity, hard hit rate and chase rate. He also posted strong numbers in expected slugging percentage, barrel rate and whiff rate.
The 35-year-old did get to prove himself against the Dodgers in the postseason, batting .429/.429/.643 across 14 National League Division Series at-bats while adding one home run and four runs scored in the Diamondbacks’ sweep.
The Dodgers instead chose to rely on David Peralta in left field, who struggled mightily down the stretch and was later revealed to have been playing through a torn flexor tendon in his left elbow since the middle of July.
Pham will once again enter free agency following the conclusion of the World Series, so the Dodgers may have another opportunity to add the veteran outfielder.
Which Dodgers were teammates with Tommy Pham?
Pham has a few connections to the Dodgers roster, so there were presumably multiple players recruiting him.
Jason Heyward and Alex Reyes were teammates with Pham on the St. Louis Cardinals, Ryan Braiser played with him as a member of the 2022 Boston Red Sox, and Daniel Hudson was his teammate on the 2021 San Diego Padres.
Pham was also previously teammates with Kiké Hernández, Ryan Yarbrough, Lance Lynn and Kolten Wong, but they joined the organization later.
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