We've seen the free agent market actually return to normal this offseason, but there hasn't been much activity with trades. That is until now. Ken Rosenthal was the first to report on Thursday night that the Padres are trading for outfielder Tommy Pham from the Rays.
Not only did the Padres trade for Pham, but in the deal San Diego is sending fellow outfielder Hunter Renfroe to Tampa Bay. Renfroe could have possibly been part of a trade between the Cubs and Padres this offseason, as both clubs match up nicely in terms of different needs.
Along with Renfroe, the Padres are trading infield prospect Xavier Edwards to the Rays. Pham and a prospect will go to San Diego.
Pham, 31, is simply a good, solid player. He has a career .844 OPS and .373 OBP. As a Cubs fan I'm really jealous the Padres got him. Pham would have been perfect at the top of the lineup for the Cubs.
Oh well and because it's the Rays and they're trading away a good player, then you know money factored into the decision on Tampa Bay's side.
Damnit, this is nice move by the Padres.
The prospect packaged with Pham to the Padres is not known as of now.
Pham slashed .273/.369/.450, with 21 home runs in 145 games for the Rays in 2019. Last year he posted an .830 OPS and also hit 21 home runs with the Cardinals and Rays combined.
UUPDATE
The prospect going to the Padres along with Pham is 25-year-old Jake Cronenworth, who not only had a .949 OPS in 88 games at Triple-A last season, but he also had seven scoreless appearances as a reliever, six coming as an opener.
That's also cool for the Padres.
