Pirates fans' most hated player is inexplicably turning into a prime trade candidate

For most of the season, Tommy Pham has drawn the ire of Pittsburgh Pirates fans. The 37-year-old looked like a shell of the dynamic player he used to be, spiraling further downward towards unplayable status after his 2024 struggles.

Many wondered what the point was of keeping Pham on the roster. He likely didn't have any trade value after batting a paltry .170 in the season's first month. While May saw his contact woes abate with a .293 average, it rang hollow as he slugged a punchless .293, recording zero extra-base hits the entire month.

Just as it felt that Pham couldn't do anything right, the calendar flipped to June, and like a phoenix rising from the ashes, he showed surprising signs of rejuvenation, slashing .302/.373/.488. So far in July, Pham has been playing out of his mind with a .367/.424/.633.

Tommy Pham is miraculously turning into a valuable trade chip for the Pirates

Interest is starting to roll in on Tommy Pham, giving the Pirates yet another chip for their July fire sale. One team has already been linked to Pham, the San Diego Padres, for whom he played from 2020-2021.

Others will certainly come calling as well. Pham has never been known for his defense, and at his advanced age, that's even more so today than it was in his prime. His power, which once was a plus, may not be all that potent with only three homers on the year.

Those deficiencies aside, Pham is showing he can still get on base and occasionally drill a ball into the gap, even if he rarely clears the fences anymore. No one will confuse him with one of the most valuable trade candidates on the market, but the way he's produced lately shows he still has some value.

Teams that need a right-handed bench bat, a platoon or fourth outfielder, or even a low-end starter after missing out on a higher value target would be wise to call up the Pirates in the coming weeks. The remainder of his modest $4.025 million salary and expiring contract make him all the more attractive as a rental.

In all honesty, the Pirates won't get much back for Pham, but that hardly matters. A lottery ticket prospect, international bonus pool money, or even just some cash will make for a worthwhile return for a player who just a few weeks ago looked like a colossal waste of a roster spot and a sure-fire DFA candidate.