Why Tommy Pham Should Be Atlanta's Prime Target
Why Tommy Pham Should Be Atlanta's Prime Target
Potential Pham-tastic acquisition?
With the season-ending ACL tear to Acuña, the Braves should be in the market for some OF depth. I would love for Atlanta to pull off a trade and get Randy Arozarena, Taylor Ward, Jo Adell, Kevin Pillar, or SOMEBODY, I think Tommy Pham would be the best fit. I believe the price tag for everyone, with the exception of Pillar and Adell, would cost the Braves one of their top prospects.
Randy Arozarena
Randy still has two years of arbitration before he is a free agent and has a salary of 8.1 million this season (and will probably increase next year), which if Acuña is out a portion of the 2025 season, would make sense with Duvall only signing a 1-year deal. The Braves payroll is a guaranteed 185 million, and that’s not counting a potential Max Fried extension or contract, an AJ Minter contract, or arbitration salary increases. Randy is slashing .161/.254/.317 with a 71 WRC+. Randy has the lowest line-drive% so far in his career, and the highest fly-ball% in his career. Randy has the highest Launch-angle he has ever had at 12.8 so it’s possible he could be getting under the ball a bit. He is still in the 72 percentile for Avg Exit Velocity and BB%.
Taylor Ward
Taylor Ward has 2 years left for arbitration and is making almost half of what Arozarena is making. Ward is in the same boat with Randy that it would make sense if Acuña was out a big chunk of 2025; they wouldn’t have to rush him back, but if Duvall resigned with Atlanta, it would just create a log jam in the OF, with only one of the righties potentially platooning with Kelenic in LF. Ward is slashing .271/.332/.478 and a WRC+ of 126. Wards Savant page is bloodshot red, being in the 90 percentile in xwOBA, xBA, xSLG, Barrel%, LA Sweet-Spot, Chase%.
Jo Adell
Jo Adell is heading into the ARB 1 stage of his contract, and while he is making the league minimum, he has not proven enough at the major league level for Atlanta to go out and trade for him to be in the platoon with Kelenic, since Kelenic is pretty identical a high-ceiling prospect who has a lot to prove. Kelenic also isn’t a free agent until 2029. Adell is slashing .205/.267/.452 with a 100 WRC+, although league average, Adell has already tapped into some power this year, launching 10 bombs in 48 games. Adell is just 1 behind his career high in barrels and has career highs in barrel% and hard-hit%. Adell sits in the 90+ percentile for xSLG, barrel%, and the 99 percentile for bat speed.
Kevin Pillar
A Kevin Pillar reunion wouldn't be the worst idea, as he was with the club last year and was beloved in the clubhouse; he’s making the league minimum, and it is a 1- year deal. All these OF targets have been right handed hitters, as the Braves have 1 bench OFer, who is left handed in J.P. Martíez. The Braves are carrying 3 catchers currently trying to ease Sean Murphy, but will send Chadwick Tromp in the upcoming weeks. At the beginning of the year, Pillar was signed by the White Sox and was then released after 25 at-bats, slashing .160/.290/.360. In 58 at-bats with the Halos, Pillar is slashing .431/.459/.759. Pillar became a fan favorite in Atlanta, and myself, along with all of Braves country would love to have him back, but I personally think Tommy Pham is the right answer for this team.
Tommy Pham
With the Braves dropping 3 of 4 to the Nationals, the Braves have lost 17 out of their last 30. In that stretch, the Braves have scored 3 or fewer runs 17 times and 2 or fewer runs 12 times. This offense needs a kickstart, and who else is better than Tommy Pham? Atlanta has gotten criticized the past 2 years for not having that “dude with the attitude.” The Braves traded for Chris Sale, and the starting rotation is 7th in ERA, tied for 3rd last in home runs given up, and 26th in walks. The pitching is doing its job, but for the most part the offense is just in complete shambles. It’s no question that Sale has helped the pitching side, and I think Pham could be that guy with the offense.
In 2024, Pham is slashing. 294/.344/.429 with 10 HR and 38 RBI in 30 games. He has increased his fly ball and line drive rates while decreasing his ground ball rate. Pham is ranked in the 80+ percentiles in batting run value, xBA, Avg Exit Velo, LA Sweet-Spot%, and Chase%. The Braves need a guy like Tommy Pham to either split time with Duvall in right or start in right. Kelenic and Duvall go back to a platoon. A trade for Pham shouldn’t cost that much, as the White Sox are looking for young, sustainable pieces with control as they are rebuilding. The Braves need a guy who can really light a fire in the clubhouse and is an amazing teammate, just like Pham is.