The White Sox have traded veteran outfielder Tommy Pham to the Cardinals as part of a three-team deal with the Dodgers.
According to Russell Dorsey of Yahoo Sports, the Cardinals received both Pham and right-hander Erick Fedde from the White Sox. The Dodgers received Michael Kopech from the White Sox and utilityman Tommy Edman from the Cardinals. The White Sox reportedly received Dodgers prospects Miguel Vargas, Noah Miller, Jaral Perez, and Alexander Albertus. However, Jeff Passan later reported that Miller was not included in the trade.
Albertus is the 23rd-ranked prospect in the Dodgers farm system according to MLB Pipeline. The 19-year-old infielder was promoted to Single-A this season after hitting .298 with 42 home runs for the ACL Dodgers in the Rookie League. He hasn’t faired as well in A-ball slashing .229/.317/.329 in his first 70 at-bats. What Albertus will add to the White Sox farm system is some much-needed plate discipline. He has shown a knack for getting on base in his young career, drawing 107 walks in his first three seasons as a pro. In his first 85 games, he drew 70 walks and struck out just 40 times.
Perez is the Dodgers 17th ranked prospect according to MLB Pipeline. The 19-year-old has shown some solid power, hitting 11 home runs last season, and 10 so far this season in low-A ball. The Dodgers initially signed him for $397,500 out of the Dominican Republic in 2022, as part of their international class. He was promoted to Single-A as an 18-year-old after slugging .503 with a .892 OPS in 53 games of Rookie Ball last season. During that stretch, he drove in 41 RBIs. Scouts believe he could turn into a 20-plus home run player down the road given his fast hands and raw power.
Pham went unsigned for much of the offseason before signing a minor-league deal with the White Sox on April 14th worth $3 million. Pham has put together a solid season for the White Sox, slashing .266/.331/.331 with five home runs and 18 RBIs. He has hit the ball harder than his numbers suggest, ranking in the MLB’s top 30% in expected batting average (.283) and exit velocity (91 mph). Pham has been asked to play all three outfield positions, which includes starting 28 games in center field when Luis Robert Jr. was on the IL.
The 11-year veteran is only one year removed from helping the Arizona Diamondbacks win the National League pennant. During the World Series, he went 8-for 19 with a home run and a pair of RBIs.
Pham owns a career .259/.351/.435 slash line with 130 home runs and an 18.1 WAR. In 2023 he hit 16 home runs and 68 RBIs with a .774 OPS in 129 games between stints with the Mets and Diamondbacks. However, the best season of his career came in 2017 with the Cardinals. He set career highs with 23 home runs, 73 RBIs, a .306 batting average, and a .931 OPS. The front office is hoping he can rekindle some of that magic but at the very least he still provides the Cardinals with a veteran presence and a proven track record of working good at-bats.
