Sox officially have Pham in wings
Tommy Pham can hit.
The White Sox can’t.
So the signing of the veteran outfielder to a minor-league deal — a move expected for days and made official Tuesday — could take some pressure off a struggling lineup that’s last in the majors with 34 runs.
In 2023, Pham batted third 49 times and fifth 22 times between the Mets and the American League champion Diamondbacks, for whom he batted .241 with six home runs in 50 games. He’s a career .259/.351/.435 hitter with a .786 OPS in 10 seasons. He had a 111 OPS+ in 2023.
His minor-league deal with the Sox is worth $3 million plus incentives. He’ll report to Triple-A Charlotte on Wednesday with the expectation of needing about two weeks there, general manager Chris Getz said. From there, he’ll join the Sox, who are off to a 2-14 start.
“He has a track record in this game, and he’s a really good hitter, has ability to control the strike zone,” manager Pedro Grifol said. “He has a pretty good on-base. He has some power. He’s versatile out there. He’s got an edge to him that I really like.”
Adding veterans to the mix — starting pitcher Mike Clevinger is expected to rejoin the Sox around the same time Pham is called up — doesn’t fit into a rebuilding profile, but the Sox are doing what they can to push back against an unbearable season. And it’s likely that Pham, Clevinger and other veterans would be made available to contending teams at the trade deadline this summer.
Sox, Royals rained out
Weather forced the rescheduling of Tuesday night’s Royals-Sox game at Guaranteed Rate Field to Wednesday, when it will be part of a straight doubleheader. Jonathan Cannon is scheduled to make his major-league debut against the Royals’ Brady Singer in Game 1, while Erick Fedde will oppose Michael Wacha in Game 2, which will start about 45 minutes after completion of the first game.
Parking lots and gates open at 12:10 p.m.
Roster moves
Cannon’s contract was selected from Charlotte, lefty Jared Shuster was optioned to Charlotte, and right-hander Josimar Cousin was designated for assignment.
Shuster, 25, allowed one run in 6„ innings over two relief appearances after being recalled from Charlotte on April 28.
Cousin, 26, started the season on Double-A Birmingham’s injured list and hasn’t pitched yet this season.
A rookie’s perspective
Infielder Braden Shewmake, who was scheduled to make his first start at third base Tuesday, is breaking into the majors in less-than-ideal circumstances.
“It has been difficult,” he said of what the team is enduring. “Nobody in this locker room is used to losing. It’s not fun. We
don’t enjoy that. We’ve had plenty of talks together as guys and whatnot. The first thing is [to] enjoy being around each other and having each other’s back through thick or thin. And being able to pick each other up and put your arm around your brother and help him along the way.”
That said, Shewmake believes the Sox have remained tight.
“We’re pretty dang close,” he said. “Everybody likes each other. That’s a good step, for sure.”