D-backs Acquire Tommy Pham from Mets
The Diamondbacks have swung a deal with the New York Mets in order to acquire Tommy Pham just ahead of the deadline. Andy Martino of SNY reported Pham getting traded to Arizona while Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic adds in that 17-year-old shortstop prospect Jeremy Rodriguez will be going to the Mets.
Mike Hazen has stated the organization has been looking for right-handed bats that could help them on the bench, even as recently as last night. Pham fills the role of a 4th outfielder who will start as the DH and occasionally in left field. He has 52 starts in the outfield, 47 in left field, and 12 at DH. Against left-handed pitchers, Pham is a .255/.339/.532 hitter with eight home runs and an .871 OPS in 109 plate appearances. He should lengthen out a lineup that is 16-14 against left-handed starters.
Rodriguez was one of the top international prospects in the D-backs 2023 class, signing for $1.2 million in January. He is hitting .250/.368/.383 with six doubles, two triples, and two home runs in 37 games in the Dominican Summer League. Fangraphs listed him as Arizona's No. 31 prospect entering the season, as a smooth defender at shortstop with a solid build and a compact swing. They also noted the lack of a plus or carrying tool in his profile, but a left-handed hitting infielder with the potential for solid tools across the board and can stick at one of the toughest defensive positions has value.
With the Pham and Chafin deals done today, Arizona is finished making trades for the season. Entering August in a three-way tie for the Wild Card, now it's up to the team to back the investment the front office made in improving their club over the final third of the season.
