BALTIMORE -- The Orioles signed Tommy Pham to a Minor League deal on May 16 to bolster their outfield depth. However, the 38-year-old departed the organization without playing an MLB game for the club.
Pham opted out of his contract and was granted his release on Friday, the club announced. His deal featured a clause that allowed him to opt out if he was not called up to the big leagues by Friday, per a source.
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), but the 24-year-old could begin a rehab assignment by late next week.
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 is 4-for-12 (.333) with three doubles over his past three games.
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 after returning to free agency.