Padres 'Moving Closer' to Signing Veteran Outfielder: Report

Could we see the return of this veteran outfielder for the Friars?

The San Diego Padres lost out on another potential free agent, the speedster Michael A. Taylor, to the Pittsburgh Pirates this week. 

The list of outfielder free agents is thin, as only a couple of options remain on the market. Taylor is now gone, and the best viable option remaining in free agency is a former Padre, Tommy Pham. 

The 36-year-old is still a free agent and has been linked to the Friars. According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the sides could consummate a deal soon:

The San Diego Padres and outfielder Tommy Pham are moving closer to reuniting on a one-year, $3 million to $4 million deal. Pham earned $8 million last season, including incentives, while helping lead the Arizona Diamondbacks to the World Series. He played for the Padres in 2020 and 2021.

The Chicago White Sox also have interest in Pham if his potential deal with the Padres hits a snag.

— via Bob Nightengale, USA Today 

The Padres need an outfielder, and Pham could be a good fit. He's a familiar face and was linked to the Pirates; clearly, they don't need him anymore. 

Enter the Friars. San Diego could use Pham, who is coming off a solid year at the plate. In 129 games with the New York Mets and the Arizona Diamondbacks, he slashed .256/.328/.446 with 16 home runs and 68 RBIs. 

Pham can play all three outfield spots, especially left field, a position the Friars desperately need to fill. Another former Friar turned Friar once again, Jurickson Profar, will take care of the left field. However, his status with less than a week till Opening Day is unclear as he got injuries in the team's final Cactus League game. 

Pham is the only option that makes sense with such a short time left for the regular season. 

The Padres open the regular season Wednesday in Korea against the Los Angeles Dodgers. They will play two exhibition games against Korean clubs in the meantime. Pham would need to head across the Pacific if he is to sign a major league contract with the Padres between now and then.

For Pham, reuniting with the Padres might be worth the trip.