Phillies news and rumors 7/24: Phils reportedly ‘would love to land’ Mets’ Tommy Pham

The latest “Phillies Therapy” episode on Tuesday floated New York Mets outfielder Tommy Pham as a “perfect” trade deadline acquisition for the Phillies, and Sunday provided some more chatter reaffirming that characterization.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today wrote Sunday about some of the biggest questions around the league ahead of the Aug. 1 deadline. While the Phillies weren’t the centerpiece of any of those, Nightengale included a footnote at the bottom that confirmed the Phillies’ interest in a right-handed-hitting corner outfielder, specifying that the club “would love to land” Pham as that piece.

He fits the profile. After a down season in Cincinnati and Boston, Pham is putting together a solid bounceback, slashing .272/.356/.475 for an .831 OPS with the 46-53, likely-selling Mets.

He’s played everywhere in the outfield this year, grading out as a slightly below average defender. But the Phillies sorely need an offensive spark, sputtering to a four-game losing streak last week that included two shutouts — and even Sunday’s win wasn’t as inspiring offensively as its eight-run total might suggest.

A right groin injury has limited Pham to only four starts in the last two weeks for the Mets. Pham told Newsday’s Tim Healey that he expects to be back in the lineup on Tuesday against the Yankees. Any team looking to acquire him would have to be wary of his health.

Pham wouldn’t, on his own, fix all the Phillies’ offensive woes, especially if he’s not an everyday starter (though Bryce Harper appearing to have the first base job locked down might present more opportunities in that regard). However, upon his arrival, he would immediately become the OPS leader on a team that includes Bryce Harper, Nick Castellanos, Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto. Those veterans need to hit, but a little bolstering around the edges can’t hurt.

Maybe the sample isn’t as large, but again, Pham isn’t likely to start every day anyway. At the very least, it’s a seemingly low-risk, low-cost move for a rental who could give the Phillies offense a marginal boost at a time when one is sorely needed.

Must-read (or watch) Phillies content

• For the batting average holdouts: Bryson Stott’s handprints were all over Sunday’s win, despite going 0-for-1 at the plate. Phillies Nation‘s Tim Kelly wrote about the rarity of Stott’s performance.
• Paul Hagen wrote about Scott Rolen’s “complicated” Phillies tenure before Rolen was officially enshrined into the Hall of Fame on Sunday.
• The Phillies have to decide soon whether to roster Noah Song, whom Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote the team believes is ahead of schedule.
• The Inquirer‘s Scott Lauber wrote about the Phillies’ priorities ahead of the trade deadline.

Former Phillie Nation

• Andrew McCutchen reached base three more times in a Pirates loss to the Angels on Sunday. Why is this notable? It’s not, other than the fact that it raised McCutchen’s OBP to .381, which ranks ninth in baseball. The Phillies could use a right-handed bench bat … (McCutchen reportedly won’t be traded, though.)

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