Padres Looking To Sign Ex-Cardinals Outfielder To Bolster Positional Depth

The former Cardinals outfielder may finally find his next opportunity soon

Arizona Diamondbacks designated hitter Tommy Pham (28) reacts after hitting a double during the / Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY

One former member of the St. Louis Cardinals surprisingly still is looking for his next home.

The 2024 season is in full swing and yet there still are a couple of impact free agents out there after an extremely slow offseason. Unlikely past years, the top free agents didn't sign throughout the winter which certainly held up the market.

One player who has been impacted by this is former Cardinals outfielder Tommy Pham. The veteran had a solid 2023 campaign with the New York Mets and Arizona Diamondbacks but still hasn't signed.

It's unclear where he will land, but one club that reportedly still is interested in signing him is the San Diego Padres, according to the New York Post's Jon Heyman.

"The Padres have been considering Tommy Pham but want to stay under the $237 million first-tied luxury-tax threshold," Heyman said. "That would leave them just $2M-$3M. They’d also prefer to have money for the trade deadline."

A signing doesn't seem like a certainty, but this isn't the first time San Diego has been linked to Pham. The veteran was selected in the 16th round of the 2006 Major League Baseball June Amateur Draft by St. Louis and made his big league debut with the team in 2014.

Pham spent the first four-plus seasons of his career with the Cardinals and since then has spent time with the Tampa Bay Rays, Padres, Cincinnati Reds, Boston Red Sox, Mets, and Diamondbacks.

The 36-year-old impressed last season with 16 home runs and 68 RBIs in 129 games with the Mets and Diamondbacks. Hopefully, he will be able to land his next opportunity soon.

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