HOUSTON – Tommy Pham has returned to the White Sox in a far better organizational situation and American League Central position than when the veteran outfielder last played in Chicago.
Pham, 38, was acquired from the Phillies on Monday in exchange for cash considerations, just as left-handed outfielder Jake Cave was added by the White Sox from the Rays. Pham should be joining the team Tuesday in Houston.
The players were allowed to be traded following the Aug. 3 Trade Deadline because they were not on their teams' 40-man roster. They would be eligible for the postseason because they joined the White Sox organization prior to Sept. 1, when rosters expand.
In 2024, when the White Sox suffered through 121 losses for a Modern Era single-season record, Pham joined the team on April 26 during the same weekend when the struggling South Siders swept the Rays at home. He was traded to the Cardinals on July 29, 2024, with Erick Fedde as part of a three-team deal, which sent All-Star third baseman Miguel Vargas to the White Sox.
Now this trio will be reunited.
“I enjoyed playing with him. I’m looking forward to seeing him,” designated hitter Andrew Benintendi told MLB.com of Pham, with the two playing together in ‘24. “Brings it every single day, is passionate about winning. Yeah, I think he’ll be a good addition.”
“It means a lot. I’m really excited about Tommy Pham coming,” White Sox manager Will Venable said. “As you look at it broadly, our need for a right-handed bat against left-handed pitching is something that we’re really excited about. And then the human being, the teammate, the edge that he brings, kind of who he is as a total player. I think he’s going to make a real big impact here.”
Venable said Pham will find a way in there against left-handers and then maybe be a second right-handed bat after Randal Grichuk against right-handed starters.
“There’s going to be at-bats for him, there’s going to be opportunities for him,” Venable said. “We probably have him in there against left-handed pitching.”
"No. 1, just being a pro and finding out anything I can do possibly to help the team contribute to a win whenever my name is called,” Pham said prior to Tuesday’s contest. “That's really what it comes down to.”
After starting the season with the Mets, Pham was designated for assignment on April 27 following an 0-for-13 showing with seven strikeouts. He then signed a Minor League deal with the Orioles on May 16, only to be released on June 12 after hitting .197 (12-for-61) with four homers and 21 K's over 16 games with Triple-A Norfolk. Pham slashed .250/.381/.391 with three homers and 25 RBIs in 44 games for Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Pham spent last season with the Pirates, hitting .245 with 10 homers, 52 RBIs and a .700 OPS over 120 games. Overall, Pham has a .256/.344/.421 career slash line while playing for 10 big league teams over his 13 seasons. While he hit left-handed pitching well early in his career, Pham has hit just .230 with a .716 OPS vs. southpaws since 2021 (compared to .245 with a .703 OPS vs. righties during that span).
In that time with the White Sox, Pham posted a 266/.330/.380 slash line with five homers and 19 RBIs in 70 games. Much like Benintendi, Venable believes Pham’s intense, focused personality will fit in this crazy first-place clubhouse.
“That edge he’s got is real. I think it also works in a lot of different types of environments,” Venable said. “Our environment especially, with young guys, many of these guys are seeing these things and feeling these things as we go down the stretch for the first time.
“To have someone who not only has been there, but goes about his business with the right kind of edge that helps you get through these types of moments … He is going to be huge for us.”
Cave, 33, was hitting .245/.339/.373 with a .711 OPS in 36 games this season with Triple-A Durham. Tampa Bay originally signed Cave to a Minor League deal at the end of June; he had been playing for El Águila de Veracruz in the Mexican League, where he had an .814 OPS. Cave owns a career .692 OPS in parts of seven big league seasons with the Twins, Phillies and Rockies.
He last appeared in the Majors with Colorado in 2024, when he posted a .686 OPS in 123 games. Cave spent the 2025 season playing with the Doosan Bears in South Korea’s KBO League.
“He’s another guy that has a ton of experience that we’re excited to add to the organization,” said Venable of Cave. “What his opportunity looks like with us up here in the future, can’t tell you, don’t really know. But excited to add him.”
“We're in a city where they really love this team. They love the South Side team here in Chicago,” Pham added. “It's a young team now, a lot of energy, Chicago. It's great to be back."