After he hit waivers earlier this week, the Kansas City Royals have claimed veteran outfielder Tommy Pham. Pham was of interest to the Royals at this year’s trade deadline. However, a deal never materialized and Pham was instead sent to St. Louis in a three-team trade that also sent Tommy Edman to the Los Angeles Dodgers. So far in 2024, Pham has slashed .254/.321/.378 with a 98 wRC+. Post-trade, Pham has played a part-time role with the Cardinals and has just a .653 OPS in Cardinal Red.
Pham still represents a notable upgrade for the Royals and one they’ll need down the stretch for a playoff run. After losing first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino this week to a broken thumb, the rest of the roster will have to step up and fill that void in the lineup. The team recalled utility man Nick Loftin on Friday and now will add Pham to that mix as well. Kansas City’s lineup needs a power presence that can find success against RHP. Pham offers both, with a .206 ISO against lefties and a .261/.320/.358 slash line against right-handed pitching.
In his career, Pham has a .592 OPS in Kauffman Stadium but fared much better there earlier in 2024, hitting .273 with two doubles in five games. Defensively, Pham is better utilized as a designated hitter at this point but plays well enough in left field that he could platoon there with MJ Melendez. In 2024, Pham has played all three outfield positions, combining for -13 Defensive Runs Saved and -4 Outs Above Average. Much of that negative value has come in center field, where he’s been worth -8 DRS alone.
Finding more depth, the Royals also claimed outfielder Robbie Grossman on Saturday
The additions didn’t stop at Pham on Saturday morning. The Royals have also claimed outfielder Robbie Grossman from the Texas Rangers. The Rangers placed him on waivers earlier this week and he’s now found a new home for the foreseeable future. Both Pham and Grossman will be playoff-eligible. Grossman has built a Major League career by hitting left-handed pitching, and he’s done the same so far in 2024. This season, Grossman owns a 137 wRC+ against LHP, including a .157 ISO and a .825 OPS.
He’s a better defender than Pham but doesn’t offer a ton of surplus value himself. He’s best in left field, where Grossman has been worth 1 DRS and 0 OAA this season. Grossman has spent similar time in the right field, where he’s been worth -2 DRS and -4 OAA so far. He’s also a sound hitter in The K, slashing .281/.377/.386 in 47 career games in Kansas City. With two new additions now on the way, the Royals will have some roster decisions to make even with Sunday’s roster expansion looming. With Grossman and Pham now in place, it would seem that the Royals will have decisions to make between outfielders Dairon Blanco, Tyler Gentry, and Garrett Hampson. The most likely scenario seems to be Blanco or Gentry optioned to Omaha. The Royals would then have space to add a pitcher as their 28th player with rosters expanding Sunday.