The Cincinnati Reds fans have endured a difficult offseason. The team traded away stars such as Sonny Gray, Jesse Winker, and Eugenio Suarez, as well as watching players like Nick Castellanos sign elsewhere. But the Reds recently somewhat salvaged their offseason by inking outfielder Tommy Pham to a free agent contract.

Pham has never made an All-Star team, but he finished 11th in MVP voting in 2017. The outfielder hit .306/.411/.520 with a .931 OPS. He also posted a 20-20 campaign with 23 home runs and 25 stolen bases. He was regarded as one of the better outfielders in the sport following his strong year in 2017.

Pham has spent time in St. Louis, Tampa Bay, and most recently San Diego. He clubbed 15 home runs in 2021 while also stealing 14 bases. So although those are not the same numbers as his strong 2017 performance, it is clear that he still has something left in the tank. His power and speed are undoubtedly enticing.

The Reds entered full fire-sale mode this offseason. They dealt away the aforementioned players and are clearly rebuilding. Although it may seem confusing to sign a veteran like Pham given their current organizational path, there are two reasons why they would pull the trigger on a guy like him. First off, he can provide veteran leadership for their young prospects entering the MLB. Secondly, Cincinnati can trade him away in July before the trade deadline and get prospects in return.

Tommy Pham could also build some added value since he will be batting in hitter-friendly Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati. This is a deal that should payoff for both sides in the long run.