Mets, Tommy Pham agree to one-year $6 million contract

The Mets were in search for a fourth outfielder, and landed on Pham in free agency

After their pursuit of Carlos Correa ended last week, Mets GM Billy Eppler continued to seek upgrades to the offense - specifically in the outfield - in an effort to improve upon the baseline which was set to return in 2023.

In doing so, the Mets believe they’ve found one piece for the back of the roster, landing on free agent OF Tommy Pham with a one-year $6 million contract.

Pham, who turns 35 in March, appeared in 144 games with the Reds and Red Sox in 2022, hitting .236/.312/.374 with 17 home runs and 63 RBI in 622 plate appearances, drawing 56 walks against 167 strikeouts over 622 plate appearances, producing a sub-average 87 OPS+ in the process. Pham - a right-handed hitter - hit .273/.338/.446 against left-handed pitching in last season which is in-line with his career mark against southpaws (.276/.392/.450).

Pham was in the 89th percentile in hard-hit rate, 88th percentile in chase rate, and the top-10 percentile in average exit velocity in 2022. He also produced an above average run value of nine against four-seam fastballs. He possesses above average speed even as he enters his mid-30’s.

Pham produced 0 defensive runs saved in left field last season and -1 in center. He is generally considered at or slightly below average defensively.

He made headlines last season when he slapped Giants OF Joe Pederson across the face over a dispute in their fantasy football league. He was issued a three-game suspension for his behavior.

During his nine-year career with the Cardinals, Rays, Padres, Reds and Red Sox, Pham has hit .259/.354/.433 with 114 home runs, 363 RBI and 97 stolen bases in 126 attempts, a 76.9 percent success rate.

The Mets did have offers out to both Andrew McCutchen and Adam Duvall, according to SNY, but Duvall in particular had a better opportunity to start in Boston, where he has reportedly agreed to sign.

SNY’s Andy Martino was the first to report the Mets had an offer out to Pham, and that the two sides had agreed to terms, and Jim Bowden of the Athletic was the first to report such terms.