Pham has gone 4-for-30 (.133) with only one extra-base hit, a double, and zero stolen-base attempts through 11 Grapefruit League games.
The 35-year-old signed with the Mets in the offseason to be the fourth outfielder on a team with older, somewhat injury-prone starters like Brandon Nimmo and Starling Marte, but Pham's numbers have been trending down ever since 2019. His spring performance is a little ominous in that context. He still posted a .686 OPS last season for the Reds and Red Sox, and he should be able to supply some power and speed this year when he gets a chance to play.
Pham agreed Wednesday with the Mets on a one-year, $6 million contract, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
He can also earn another $2 million in incentives. Pham split the 2022 season with the Reds and Red Sox, finishing with a .236/.312/.374 slash line along with 17 homers and eight steals over 144 games. The 34-year-old outfielder hasn't posted an OPS above .800 since his 2019 campaign with the Rays, but he still possesses some quality power and speed while being a reliable option against left-handed pitching. He'll likely be the fourth outfielder with the Mets but should get his fair share of starts against southpaws in 2023.
The Red Sox declined Pham's $6 million mutual option on Monday, Julian McWilliams of The Boston Globe reports.
The outfielder will hit free agency heading into his age-35 season. Pham slashed .236/.312/.374 with 23 doubles, 17 home runs and 63 RBI in 2022 between the Reds and Red Sox in 2022. With his age and waning defensive value, Pham figures to sign a short-term contract this offseason and may not be guaranteed an everyday role with his next team.
Pham was scratched from Wednesday's lineup against the Rays for an undisclosed reason, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.
While a reason for Pham's absence isn't yet clear, he was removed from the lineup minutes before first pitch. Abraham Almonte will take over in left field and bat ninth.
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Red Sox's Tommy Pham: Takes seat Friday
Rotowire
Pham isn't starting Friday against the Blue Jays, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.
Pham started the last three games and went 2-for-11 with a double, three RBI, two runs, two walks and two strikeouts. He'll get a breather while Abraham Almonte starts in left field and bats eighth.
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Red Sox's Tommy Pham: Three RBI in win
Rotowire
Pham went 1-for-3 with three RBI, two runs, two walks and a hit-by-pitch in Tuesday's 13-9 win over the Orioles.
Pham was all over the basepaths Tuesday, reaching four times in six plate appearances while most notably ripping a two-RBI single in the bottom of the third. On the season, Pham is now batting .244 with 17 homers, 63 RBI, 89 runs and eight stolen bases over 532 at-bats in 138 games between the Reds and Red Sox.
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Red Sox's Tommy Pham: Gets rare day off
Rotowire
Pham is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Orioles, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.
Pham will head to the bench for the first time since Aug. 24, ending a stretch of 28 consecutive starts. Though his steady playing time and regular spot near the top of the Boston lineup can't be taken for granted while several teams around the league frequently rest their regulars down the stretch, Pham hasn't been capitalizing on his opportunities. During that 28-game stretch, he's batting a modest .246 with pedestrian counting stats (three home runs, one stolen base, 18 runs and eight RBI).
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Red Sox's Tommy Pham: Collects three RBI
Rotowire
Pham went 3-for-4 with a double, three RBI, two runs scored and a walk in Sunday's 13-3 victory over Kansas City.
Pham knocked a sacrifice fly in the second inning followed by RBI hits in the sixth and eighth frames. He was stuck in a 3-for-26 (.115) slump over his previous seven games since his last multi-hit performance Sep. 7. The veteran outfielder has gone 43-for-165 (.261) with 20 RBI and 14 extra-base hits since being acquired by Boston.
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Red Sox's Tommy Pham: Leading off Sunday
Rotowire
Pham (shin) is in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.
Pham left Saturday's contest after being hit by a pitch on the shin, but the injury will not cost him any further action. He will man left field and lead off for the Red Sox on Sunday.
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Red Sox's Tommy Pham: Exits with bruised shin
Rotowire
Pham left Saturday's game against Baltimore with a bruised shin, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.
Pham was hit by a pitch in the second inning but remained in the game until the fourth, when he was replaced by Abraham Almonte. It's not yet clear if he's at risk of anything other than a brief absence.
Pham went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 8-4 loss to the Rays.
Pham put an end to an eight-game stretch without an extra-base hit when he took Rays starter JT Chargois deep with two outs in the top of the second. The 34-year-old has made each of his last 13 starts out of the leadoff spot, but he'll bump down to second in the order in Wednesday's series finale while Enrique Hernandez gets a look in the table-setting role, according to Bill Koch of The Providence Journal.
Pham (back) is starting Thursday against the Blue Jays, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.
Pham sat out Wednesday due to lower-back spasms but will start in left field and bat leadoff a day later. Over his last five games, he's gone 4-for-18 with three doubles, four RBI and a run.
