The Chicago White Sox is reportedly close to adding veteran outfielder Tommy Pham, with Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reporting that the American League Central division club is nearing a deal with the 36-year-old journeyman.

“Pham, the No. 33 player on The Athletic’s top-40 free-agent big board, is close to an agreement with the injury-depleted Chicago White Sox on a minor-league contract, according to sources briefed on the discussions. He will be signing a minor-league deal because he is out of options. This way, the White Sox can start him in the minors without needing to pass him through waivers, and promote him when he is ready,” Rosenthal shared.

As noted by Rosenthal, the White Sox might have felt the need to reach out to someone like Pham after seeing some key players go down with injuries. Outfielders Eloy Jimenez and Luis Robert Jr. are both currently sidelined with adductor and hip issues, respectively. The White Sox are also still missing third baseman Yoan Moncada because of a an adductor problem.

The interest in Pham, however, appears to have always been there for the White Sox even before the 2024 MLB season started. Back in March, just before the start of the campaign, Pham was mentioned in a report by Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY as being linked to the San Diego Padres, with the White Sox also in the picture.

“The San Diego Padres and outfielder Tommy Pham are in talks, and could be moving closer to reuniting on a one-year, $3 million to $4 million deal. Pham earned $8 million last season, including incentives, while helping lead the Arizona Diamondbacks to the World Series. He played for the Padres in 2020 and 2021. The Chicago White Sox also have interest in Pham if his potential deal with the Padres hits a snag.”

Pham, who was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 16th round of the 2006 MLB Draft, has played for a total of seven teams so far in his career in the big leagues. He spent the longest tenure with the Cards (five years) and played two seasons each for the Tampa Bay Rays and the Padres.

Tommy Pham coming off solid stint with the Diamondbacks

Tommy Pham started the 2023 MLB season with the New York Mets on a one-year deal worth $6 million. However, the Mets sent him to the Diamondbacks at the trade deadline in exchange for shortstop Jeremy Rodriguez. Pham did not put up stellar numbers in the 50 regular games he played in Arizona uniform, slashing just .241/.304/.415 with six home runs and 32 RBIs.

But he stepped it up in the playoffs, particularly in the D'backs' stunning National League Divisional Series sweep of the powerful Los Angeles Dodgers in which Pham went 6-for-14 with a home run and a 1.071 OPS. Then two series later, in the Fall Classic versus the Texas Rangers, Pham went 8-for-19 with three doubles, a home run, and two RBIs, while finishing the matchup with a 1.165 OPS. Although the Diamondbacks ended up losing to the Rangers in five games, Pham, t least, was able to give his stock a boost heading into MLB free agency.

White Sox struggling to find footing in 2023 MLB season

The White Sox could use some help at the moment, as they have won just twice in their first 13 games of the season. They are also on a four-game losing skid after getting swept in a three-leg set at home versus the Cincinnati Reds. Coming up for Chicago is a new series versus the Kansas City Royals, who swept them in a four-game set earlier this month of April.