With the MLB Draft over, trade deadline rumors are expected to pick up. The rumors picked up today, with the White Sox starting to sell off and the Phillies and Royals both believed to have at least some interest in acquiring Tommy Pham at the deadline, insider Jon Heyman reported.
After a strong start to the season, Pham is hitting .264/.339/.368 this season, good for an above-average 103 wRC+. He’s one of the few bright spots in the White Sox lineup and has the defensive versatility to play all three outfield positions. However, he hasn’t been strong defensively this season, with -4 Outs Above Average (OAA) at all three outfield positions, with his worst position being right field (-3 OAA).
The Phillies recently released Whit Merrifield after 25 appearances in left field. The Phillies were hoping Merrifield could fill a platoon role against left-handed pitching, but he struggled against them with a .567 OPS. Pham, however, is a perfect fit for the role, batting .260/.383/.480 against lefties so far this season.
The Royals are still in the running to win the second half of the season, sitting just seven games back in the AL Central. Trading their 39th pick in this year’s draft and No. 2 overall prospect Caden Wallace to the Nationals for running back Hunter Harvey shows they’re definitely in the running to win it this season. But with their outfield posting a league-worst 78 wRC+ this season, they’ll need some help down the stretch to close the gap.
Heyman also mentioned the Mariners and Pirates as teams looking for hitters, so it wouldn’t be surprising if the White Sox explored trades with those teams to acquire available hitters.
We will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.
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