Ex-Mets Outfielder Linked To Guardians In Free Agency After Strong Season

One former member of the Mets is looking for a new home this offseason in free agency

One former member of the New York Mets is looking for a new home in free agency.

The free agent market has been extremely slow so far this year. Typically at this point in the offseason, there is much more movement. Things have been slow this offseason because generational stars Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto have been looking for new homes.

Ohtani already has landed and Yamamoto is expected to make a decision in the not-so-distant future, Once he does, it's expected that the market will pick up in a major way.

One former member of the Mets who could end up having a solid market is outfielder Tommy Pham. The 10-year veteran joined the Mets ahead of the 2023 season and appeared in 79 games before being traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Overall, he finished the season with 16 home runs, 68 RBIs, and a .256/.328/.446 slash line. 

It's unclear where he will land, but one club that has been loosely linked to him in free agency is the Cleveland Guardians, according to Bleacher Report's Zachary Rymer. 

"What the Guardians need more than anything is an impact bat, and ideally one that could slot into right field on a regular basis," Rymer said. "The position produced just a .629 OPS and 10 homers this year. Trouble is, the team's budget is on the small side.

"They're expected to run a similar payroll in 2024 that they did in 2023. And as of now, the two figures are closely aligned. Yet is it too much to ask that they stretch to sign Tommy Pham? He might not command even an eight-figure salary in '24, and thus stands to be a discount source of power with a dash of leadership on the side."

Pham can play all three outfield positions and won't cost much in free agency. He could help any club and the Guardians could make sense.