Pirates Finally Land Outfielder; Sign Veteran Tommy Pham

The search for outfield help is over. The Pittsburgh Pirates have agreed to a one-year, $4.025 million deal with veteran Tommy Pham, a source confirmed to Pittsburgh Baseball Now.

Pham, who turns 37 in March, split last year between three teams — the Chicago White Sox, St. Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Royals. Combined, Pham totaled 116 games and slashed .248/.305/.368 with 20 doubles, three triples, nine home runs, 39 RBIs and seven stolen bases.

It was a solid start to the season for Pham, who posted a 104 OPS+ with the White Sox before scuffling after a trade to St. Louis. Eventually, Pham was claimed off waivers by the Royals and managed a .653 OPS in 23 games.

Across 11 big-league seasons and nine teams, Pham carries a .258/.346/.427 batting line with 139 home runs and 470 RBIs in 1,121 games.

The right-handed hitter had done particularly well against lefty pitching in his career. Against southpaws, Pham has hit .266 with an .817 OPS. However, last season he hit just .222 against left-handers and posted the exact same .674 OPS he did against righties.

Even so, if the Pirates use Pham as a platoon bat, he will see the bulk of his time when a left-handed pitcher is on the mound and could pair with either Joshua Palacios or Jack Suwinski in right field.

Pham has experience at all three outfield positions with most of those reps coming in left field. Pham did play 54 games as a right fielder in 2024 but was responsible for minus-four defensive runs saved. In his career, he’s totaled 75 games in right.

All offseason long, the Pirates’ most glaring need was outfield help. With less than a week until pitchers and catchers report to spring training, they’ve finally found their guy in.

Pham is one of five free agents the Pirates have signed to one-year MLB contracts this winter. The others are Andrew McCutchen ($5 million), Caleb Ferguson ($3 million), Adam Frazier ($1.525 million) and Tim Mayza ($1.15 million).