Mets Add 12-Year Veteran in MLB Free Agency

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Troy Lippman | Last updated Mar 26, 2026 4:48 PM ET

The New York Mets have added some outfield depth to their roster in the form of an experiment veteran. Former St. Louis Cardinals star outfielder Tommy Pham has been signed to a minor league deal on Thursday.

Pham is 38 years old having played with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2025 and is coming off a decent, but not spectacular season. This is Pham's second stint with the Mets after previously playing for the club in 2023.

This signing adds outfield depth as Pham could fill in for an injured player or take over a bench role in the big leagues in the near future. New York traded former outfielder Brandon Nimmo and long time utility player Jeff McNeil this offseason.

The Mets and Pham agreed on the deal early Thursday morning before the team's Opening Day game against the Pittsburgh Pirates (h/t Jorge Castillo, ESPN).

The Mets and outfielder Tommy Pham are in agreement on a minor-league deal, a source tells ESPN.
— Jorge Castillo (@jorgecastillo) March 26, 2026

Pham would get $2.25 million if he's called up by the Mets. He will head to Triple-A and wait for his opportunity if an injury or underperforming player gets sent down to the minors.

Pham began his career with the Cardinals in 2014 before having a break out season in 2017 and finishing 11th in NL MVP voting that year. He posted a .306 batting average, 23 home runs, 73 RBIs and .931 OPS in 530 plate appearances.

Pham has bounced around since his early days with the Cardinals and has remained a solid but unspectacular player than he was with the Cardinals. He has played for nine different teams since then including the Padres, Rays, Red Sox, Pirates, Royals, White Sox, Diamondbacks, Reds and now the Mets again.

New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza (64) watches from the dugout.© Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images

Pham can be useful piece off the bench if brought up as he has hit well against left-handers in his career posting 49 home runs and .802 OPS. For now the Mets will role with All-Star Juan Soto, Luis Robert, Tyrone Taylor, Jared Young and rookie Carson Benge in the outfield.

The Mets will hope their new outfield group can produce this season if they want to avoid missing the playoffs again in 2026. Besides Juan Soto who is one of the best players in baseball, the Mets will look to get contributions from the newly acquired Luis Robert Jr. and rookie Carson Benge who picked up his first career hit on a home run today.

Pham may not get his chance if those guys can stay healthy or he could eventually appear in a game sometime during the 2026 season.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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