The Twins Could Provide a Bounce Back Opportunity for Tommy Pham

[Nate Palmer]

A bulk of the Minnesota Twins payroll could go to filling needs other than a right-handed bat. If that is the case, Tommy Pham could be a more affordable option with some upside. 

Image courtesy of David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

 

It is Big Bat Week at Twins Daily, and this player may not indeed qualify in that category, but it is a veteran right-handed bat. Since the Twins will potentially be big-game hunting in the shortstop and pitching markets, they may need to fill the need for a right-handed bat in a slightly less expensive way. Tommy Pham, who was traded mid-season to the Boston Red Sox, could represent that sort of bat. 

Pham started the 2022 season with the Cincinnati Reds, and the Red Sox brought him in at the deadline to try and salvage their season. Over his career, Pham has been a respectable bat, but 2022 wasn’t the type of year he likely expects of himself. He slashed .237/.312/.374 (.686) and hit 17 home runs.  

What is intriguing about Pham is that he could provide a similar ability to hit left-handed pitching as recently-resigned Kyle Garlick does. In 2022, Pham hit .273/.338/.446, a .784 OPS, and six home runs against lefties. The difference between Pham and Garlick is that Pham has shown a much higher upside than Garlick. Pham has also, at age 34, been showing some discouraging signs of decline. 

In 2022, Pham’s walk rate dropped to a low 9.0% while his strikeout rate climbed to 26.8%. One likely contributing factor to those shifts is that Pham has been diagnosed with keratoconus, a cornea-thinning eye issue. He believes he is beyond the issue and has it corrected. If the Twins believe the same, they could buy low on Pham and at least get another platoon outfield bat and maybe more. 

In addition to another right-handed bat to roll out against left-handed pitchers, Pham would also allow Gilberto Celestino time to finish refining his game in the minors. Pham is also a more realistic replacement as a starter for Max Kepler if the worst-case scenario presents itself. That being that Trevor Larnach or Alex Kirilloff struggle to return to the lineup, and Kepler doesn’t find more success with his bat even after the changes to defensive shifting. 

A Pham signing certainly would come with some risk. Seeing that the Red Sox already declined his $12 million option for 2023, he would seemingly come at a price tag well below that. That lower price tag will prove valuable if the Twins pull off a Carlos Correa or similar signing and, at the same time, address the glaring need for a bat that can hit left-handed pitching. 

If the Twins do sign Pham, they will want to be careful that they review all the Fantasy Football league rules ahead of his involvement. 

 

 

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[EGFTShaw]

Meh...

Although the price may be right, he seems to duplicate Garlick.

[Nate Palmer]

44 minutes ago, EGFTShaw said:

Meh...

Although the price may be right, he seems to duplicate Garlick.

I just saw 1 yr, $6MM floated. Considering how big a problem hitting LHP was last season, duplicating Garlick's ability to hit LHP seems like a good thing. 

[farmerguychris]

If we don't sign C4 again, we need to sign some splash players.  Pham is not one.  Is he any better than our young guys who need reps?  If we only sign players like this, the team is obviously falling into the 'not trying' for 2023.

I'm sure Pham is fine - BUT, with $50M to spend, and we focus on needing a big bat (which he is not) what is his appeal?

[mnfireman]

Gordon and Garlick provide enough RH OF bats, no need for him.

 

 

Edit: My bad, Gordon bats LH......

[SF Twins Fan]

No. The Twins don't need more over the hill redemption tour players.  Spend the money on legit free agents or make trades for good players.  They have plenty of 3-5 starting pitchers and need an ace.  They have plenty of outfielders they need to try and give at bats to.  Buxton, Kepler, Larnach, Kiriloff (Maybe), Gordon, Walner and Celestino.  Plus they might have guys like Austin Martin and Royce Lewis part way through the year.  If the Twins sign a legit SS this offseason both Martin and Lewis become outfielders or tradable assets.   Unless they're going to spend the money on legit upgrades for the outfield don't waste money on never has beens. 

[Nate Palmer]

8 minutes ago, farmerguychris said:

If we don't sign C4 again, we need to sign some splash players.  Pham is not one.  Is he any better than our young guys who need reps?  If we only sign players like this, the team is obviously falling into the 'not trying' for 2023.

I'm sure Pham is fine - BUT, with $50M to spend, and we focus on needing a big bat (which he is not) what is his appeal?

The beginning premise was that Pham is an option if the Twins spend big money on Correa or other SS or a starting pitcher. If this is the only move, I agree that would be very disappointing. 

[CRF]

Please no. I'd take him over Garlick if the money was around the same...and it isn't. Let Pham go somewhere else. He can take Garlick along for the ride with him. 

[Bigfork Twins Guy]

Not necessary now that the Twins signed Garlick.

[jmlease1]

This is starting to feel less like "big bat" week and more like "take a look a player that hasn't been good since 2019" week.

Hard to think he'll be any better defensively at 35 than 34, or that he'll really hit much better. He's been less helpless against RH pitching over his career than someone like Garlick which makes him more playable overall and you might leave him in when the relievers start flying, but someone like Pham is way down on my list because he's just not all that substantial an upgrade over Garlick, but actually adds risk of getting worse.

 

[KBJ1]

Hard pass.

We need a 1B. Is Hosmer and his previous paid contract available?

[Fire Dan Gladden]

Every name, every trade proposal, every potential signing needs to fall into one of two categories:
1) Upgrade
2) Depth

I don't think Pham provides either for the Twins.

[mnfireman]

Just now, KBJ1 said:

We need a 1B. Is Hosmer and his previous paid contract available?

Adding Hosmer is a hard pass, to use your words. Miranda, Kirilloff and Arraez can handle 1B for now.

[mikelink45]

No - Pham In 2019 he looked good 273/369/450

Then in 2020 his regression began 211/312/312

and it did not pick up in 2021

In 2022 he was shuttled between three teams all hoping he would come back

The last team was Boston 234/298/374

I know we love to get veterans that we can raise to new levels (how has that worked out?), but please no.  Kyle Garlick can match this and if we are going to sign someone let's improve.  

The only thing Pham stands out for is his debate with Mike Trout over his fantasy team.

[rv78]

Sure, sign him. He is an aging veteran with declining skills and is losing his eye-sight. A perfect addition from the dumpster.

[ashbury]

3 minutes ago, rv78 said:

Sure, sign him.

[whosafraidofluigirussolo]

Adam Duvall would be another option for this type of role. He's a few months younger; he strikes out more than Pham and he's run some pretty ugly OBPs in his career, but his overall offensive production has been better than Pham's over the past few years and he probably has somewhat more defensive value, including being a backup CF. I'm not sure how excited I'd be about either of them, but if you wanted to fill a right-handed outfield bat role with a short-term veteran, they might  be close to equivalent.

[The Mad King]

Can he actually play defense? 

[Minny505]

23 hours ago, CRF said:

Please no. I'd take him over Garlick if the money was around the same...and it isn't. Let Pham go somewhere else. He can take Garlick along for the ride with him. 

Agreed. Pham seems like a clubhouse powder keg with a sordid history of behavior, and I'm not even considering the fantasy football scuffle as that was just funny. He seems like a jackass that would be willing to start a fight with a teammate. It's not worth the trouble.