Pham plans to opt out of Minors deal with O's (source)

BALTIMORE -- The Orioles signed Tommy Pham to a Minor League deal on May 16 to bolster their outfield depth. However, it seems the 38-year-old will be departing the organization without playing an MLB game for the club.

Pham is planning to opt out of his contract, according to a source, as the deal featured a clause that allowed him to do so if he was not called up to the big leagues by Friday. The club has not confirmed the news.

A 13-year big league veteran who has appeared in the Majors for 10 teams, Pham hit .197 with one double, four home runs, 11 RBIs and a .696 OPS over 16 games for Triple-A Norfolk. The right-handed hitter was playing better of late, going 7-for-26 (.269) with three homers in his past seven contests.

Baltimore brought in Pham shortly after Dylan Beavers went on the 10-day injured list with a right oblique strain. Beavers has been on the IL since May 13 (retroactive to May 11) and is currently going through a hitting progression as part of his rehab process.

The O’s have four outfielders on their 26-man roster -- Colton Cowser, Tyler O’Neill, Leody Taveras and Taylor Ward -- as well as utility man Blaze Alexander. Though O’Neill has struggled thus far (a .177 average and a .545 OPS in 42 games), his bat could be coming around, as the 30-year-old went 4-for-12 (.333) with three doubles over his past three games entering Thursday’s series finale vs. the Mariners at Camden Yards.

Pham, who went 0-for-13 in nine games with the Mets earlier this season, could now look for a new opportunity with a different club as returns to free agency.