White Sox Bring Back Tommy Pham In a Reunion Nobody Asked For

The White Sox acquired Tommy Pham from the Philadelphia Phillies for cash considerations, with Pham expected to join the roster when it expands on September 1. Chris Getz and the front office apparently identified a need for a veteran outfielder with postseason experience. However, Pham is not considered an upgrade over several outfielders already on the roster.

Pham went hitless in 14 plate appearances with the New York Mets in 2025 and was granted free agency in late April, then signed with the Baltimore Orioles, who released him about a month later. He then signed with the Philadelphia Phillies before being acquired by the White Sox for cash considerations. The deal was permitted even after the trade deadline because Pham was on a minor league contract and had not been added to a major league roster.

Tommy Pham is a career .256 hitter with a .749 OPS over 13 MLB seasons. He brings postseason experience and a solid overall resume to the White Sox.

Pham was stabbed outside a San Diego strip club in 2020 after an altercation, and in 2023 he slapped Joc Pederson over a fantasy football dispute. He has also been involved in multiple bench-clearing incidents and social media controversies, including accusing a player of steroid use and calling another outfielder a 'cry baby' in a public exchange.

Pham admitted that the only reason he signed with the White Sox in 2024 was for tax purposes. He played 70 games for Chicago that season before being traded in a three-team deal involving the Dodgers and Cardinals that sent Miguel Vargas to Chicago.