LOS ANGELES (AP) — Looking to spark a sagging offense and stop their losing streak, the last-place New York Mets brought up outfielder Tommy Pham before Monday night's series opener at the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers.
“The newest 38-year-old prospect,” Pham joked in front of his locker before the game. “A lot of smiles on faces today, so I’m happy I could provide some sunshine.”
Hours later, Pham went 0 for 3 with a strikeout as the Mets mustered
only three singles and lost 4-0 for their sixth straight defeat. He started in left field and batted seventh against Dodgers left-hander Justin Wrobleski.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said he'll mostly play Pham against lefties and bring him off the bench at other times.
“He’s a competitor, a pro, a guy that goes about his business the right way, the way he competes and how much he wants to win,” Mendoza said. “Yesterday when word got out on the way here, I got a couple of ex-coaches telling me how much you’re going to love this guy. He's a guy that knows what it takes to play here in New York and wants to be part of it.”
Pham became a free agent after last season and signed a minor league contract with the Mets on March 27.
“Body-wise, I'm in better shape than a lot of guys in the league,” he said, “but that’s just because how I work in the offseason.”
Since signing, Pham said his routine has been working out in the morning and watching the team at night. The Mets are in the NL East cellar at 7-10.
“Ultimately in New York, it's about winning,” he said. “I see a lot of great things that we’re doing, it’s just a matter of consistency. A lot of guys are hungry, from what I see of the preparation and everything. I like that. It makes me go out there and work harder.”
Pham hit .167 (2 for 12) with a double, three walks, three strikeouts and one RBI in six games at Class A St. Lucie. The Mets selected his contract Monday and opened a roster spot by optioning infielder Ronny Mauricio to Triple-A Syracuse.
Pham gets a salary of $2.25 million while in the major leagues and $220,000 while in the minors. He can earn $850,000 in performance bonuses for plate appearances in the major leagues: $150,000 each for 100, 175 and 250, and $200,000 apiece for 325 and 450.
Pham, who has played for 10 big league teams, spent part of 2023 with the Mets and hit .268 with 10 homers and 36 RBIs in 79 games before he was traded to Arizona. He has a .256 career batting average with 149 homers, 522 RBIs and 131 stolen bases.
Pham said it didn't occur to him during the offseason that his career might be over.
“My mind wasn't there. Not yet. I guess when you know, you know,” he said. “One thing I told myself this year, I’m going to go harder. I was thinking like, I want to leave everything on the table.”
All-Star outfielder Juan Soto has been sidelined by a strained right calf since April 3. He remained back in New York and Mendoza hopes Soto will be able to start running in the next couple of days.
Mendoza said he's still anticipating Soto being out two to three weeks, and wasn't sure whether he would need a minor league rehab assignment before rejoining the team.
“We just want to make sure he's fully healthy, especially when you're talking about a calf,” the manager said.
The Mets entered Monday tied for 20th in the majors with 62 runs and 14th in batting average at .236.
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