Royals Continue to Make Moves Post-Deadline, Adding Veteran Tommy Pham

The Kansas City Royals were active during the trade deadline, making several deals with the White Sox and Athletics. However, even with the deadline behind them, the Royals aren’t finished adding to their roster. Despite failing to acquire veteran outfielder Tommy Pham from the White Sox at the deadline, Kansas City persisted and ultimately landed the 36-year-old after continued pursuit.
The addition of Pham, in my opinion, is somewhat perplexing. Pham has shown signs of decline recently, but the Royals believe he still has something to offer as they aim to make a push for October. Earlier this season, Pham signed a minor league deal with the White Sox before being traded to the Cardinals in a three-team deal involving the Dodgers. St. Louis hoped Pham could provide a spark off the bench, with the team stating, "One thing we are super excited about with Tommy is just the fact that we have a long history with him. Whenever he goes to a new place, he performs really well and just his ability to be a competitor.”
So, what does Pham bring to the Royals? This season, Pham has posted a respectable .254 batting average with a combined 86 hits between his time with the White Sox and Cardinals. While Kansas City likely won’t use the 36-year-old as an everyday player, Pham should provide a valuable option off the bench. Despite his recent decline, Pham is still an upgrade over Garrett Hampson, who has struggled this season.
Hampson, signed to a one-year, $2 million deal, has been a disappointment for the Royals. The 29-year-old has appeared in 95 games, managing only 45 hits and striking out 50 times, with a batting average of .233. By comparison, Pham is a clear improvement. Additionally, with Vinnie Pasquantino sidelined due to injury, Pham may be filling an open roster spot, potentially signaling that the Royals could move on from Hampson or send another bench player down to Triple-A.
A team can never have too many players with postseason experience, and Pham brings plenty of that. With 31 postseason games under his belt, Pham has contributed to multiple teams in October, including the Cardinals, Rays, Padres, and Diamondbacks. His postseason numbers are solid, and he has the versatility to play both left field and, if needed, right field.
While Pham’s numbers have declined, likely due to age, he remains a low-risk, high-reward player—a type that any playoff hopeful team would take a chance on. Finally, I’m optimistic that Pham can make an immediate impact in the clubhouse and on the field for the rest of the regular season, and hopefully, in the playoffs.







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