Why the Padres should reunite with OF Tommy Pham

The San Diego Padres have several concerns before the season starts March 20 in South Korea against the Los Angeles Dodgers, but none are more pressing than their outfield situation.

Fernando Tatis Jr. will start in right field, but there's not much consensus on who will round out the rest of the group. That's a key reason why the Padres should reunite with Tommy Pham, who played for the team in 2020-21.

Clearly, the club is thin in the outfield.

Padres No. 2 prospect (per MLB.com) Jackson Merrill has put together a strong spring training and could make the Opening Day roster as starting left fielder. 

San Diego also recently signed outfielder Jurickson Profar to a one-year, $1 million contract. With a career slash line of .238/.322/.383 through 10 years in the bigs, he is a quality depth piece but shouldn't be relied on as a starter.

The only other outfielder on the 40-man roster is Jose Azocar who, like Profar, is great to have off the bench but not a starting-caliber player.

On Wednesday, Eddie Rosario signed a one-year deal with the Washington Nationals, leaving Pham as perhaps the top available outfielder on the free-agent market.

Entering his age-36 season, Pham has played consistently throughout his career. With an on-base plus slugging of .786 through 10 big-league seasons, he would be an upgrade over Profar and Azocar while giving the Padres experience at the position.

In 2023 with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Pham had a productive regular season at the plate (.774 OPS), but it was during the postseason he really shined -- especially in the World Series against the Texas Rangers. In 21 plate appearances against the Rangers, Pham posted eight hits, including three doubles, one home run, two runs batted in. He finished the Fall Classic with a 1.165 OPS. 

A Padres signing of Pham would not be a surprise. Dennis Lin of The Athletic has noted that, according to league sources, the veteran remains in conversation as one of the Padres potential options in the outfield.

Per Spotrac, Pham's market value currently sits at $8.3 million a year on an expected two-year contract.

As the Padres look to keep their total payroll below $200 million (currently $144 million per Spotrac), Pham is an option who would fill a need and upgrade a position at an affordable price.