Ex-Cardinals Outfielder 'Moving Closer' To Signing With Padres According To Insider

One former member of the St. Louis Cardinals could end up finding his next home very soon.

Opening Day somehow is right around the corner. It was a long offseason, but the 2024 season is just about to kick off but there are a handful of impact free agents still looking for jobs.

It's unclear why free agency was so disjointed this year, but signings should start popping up left and right because Opening Day is so close. 

One player who could end up signing very soon is veteran outfielder Tommy Pham. The 36-year-old has been looking for his next opportunity and reportedly is "moving closer" to a deal with the San Diego Padres, according to USA Today Sports' Bob Nightengale.

"The San Diego Padres and outfielder Tommy Pham are moving closer to reuniting on a one-year, $3 million to $4 million deal," Nightengale said. "Pham earned $8 million last season, including incentives, while helping lead the Arizona Diamondbacks to the World Series. He played for the Padres in 2020 and 2021."

Pham was selected by the Cardinals in the 16th round of the 2006 Major League Baseball June Amateur Draft and began his big league career with the club in 2014. He spent the first four-plus seasons of his career with St. Louis before being traded to the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018. 

There still are plenty of free agents out there who could help clubs out at the big league level and Pham certainly is one after a strong 2023 campaign with the New York Mets and Arizona Diamondbacks. It sounds like he will come off the board very soon.