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Why trading Tommy Pham was the right move for the Cardinals

The Rays get a guy who is in the midst of the sophomore slump, and the Cardinals get minor league depth to replenish the system that has been called upon more often than not during the 2018 season.
John Hefti-USA TODAY SPORTS

"You may ride like lightning, but you'll crash like thunder."-A Place Beyond The Pines

Tommy Pham didn't just play the game of baseball with a chip on his shoulder; the man treated competition like it was his skill against the world. The chip grew in size and endured over the course of a ten-year-plus professional career that took flight with a breakout 2017 season yet also included more than a few false starts.

In the end, Pham wasn't long for the St. Louis Cardinals, who traded the Las Vegas native to Tampa Bay today for three prospects, including 22-year-old outfielder Justin Williams. The Rays get a guy who is in the midst of the sophomore slump, and the Cardinals get minor league depth to replenish the system that has been called upon more often than not during the 2018 season. It was a good deal.

Some have questioned the return for Pham, but I see it as a wise mutual parting of ways. Recently, the Cardinals had granted Dexter Fowler more playing time to battle out of a career-worst slump, and Pham has found the bench on a few extra occasions recently. With Marcell Ozuna heating up and the Cardinals system packed with prospects, Pham's time was always numbered--unless he turned in another 2017 performance, a year he put together a WAR of 6.0+.

That wasn't the case, so the roster shift affected Pham and he departs for the American League with a slash line of .248/.331/.399 and a wRC+ (league and park adjusted OPS+ with 100 being average) of 101. After being far above average last year, Pham returned to average this season. Expendable and average.

However, the performance is just part of the underlying issues between player and team. In an explorative Sports Illustrated article posted earlier this season, Pham talked about a rough time in the Cardinals organization, noting how the front office had their doubts and halfway gave up on him. Remember he didn't make the 2017 opening day roster due to a bad spring. He had to defy everyone, including his superiors. Along with injuries that spanned the list from head (eye sight) to toe (knee and hamstring issues), Pham's flight in St. Louis was delayed-and damaged in the long run.

Again, the man had a large chip on his shoulder that stemmed from a childhood that was the opposite of forgiving. He's had to fight for everything in his life and nothing has come easy. That creates a personality that can clash in a clubhouse. While a veteran like Adam Wainwright loved it, the new order of younger talent in the clubhouse reportedly did not. It's not easy to simply turn off that brand of athletic arrogance. How can one do so?

The Cardinals offered Pham a two-year deal in the spring that he turned down for a one year deal, a gamble to prove himself more deserving of a long term deal. A gamble that ended up turning sour. Maybe he turns it around in Tampa Bay. Perhaps he doesn't.

Here's what you should remember about Pham: the generosity he showed in the community. Just last week, he took the off day and hung out with kids. This wasn't an athlete who cut a check, smiled for pics, and left the scene. Pham invested his time with these kids and made their days. He always shared himself with the community, and that should count more than a missed fly ball or unfortunate strikeout with the bases loaded. He was a good dude who did well in St. Louis, and now takes his talents to Tampa.

The Cardinals did trade some control in this deal. Pham wasn't a free agent until 2022, but every year that you keep him and he doesn't perform, the value on a trade in return gets lower. This is the exact reason many were calling for a trade in the offseason-but the allure of a repeat season was too hard to pass up for the Cardinals front office.

When he didn't have a great first half to the 2018 season and needed spots for a boatload of young outfielders, a door was opened for a trade. If you are sad about Pham leaving, know that Harrison Bader gets to roam center field now and take away runs from the opposition. The outfield defense gets better. Also, a guy named Tyler O'Neill gets to come up to the team and get some starts.

The No. 1 rule of trading an asset is getting a decent return and also having a replacement ready to go. Pham is gone, and Bader and O'Neill get a shot. That's the bottom line. The moment Pham didn't live up to the hype after calling out the front office, the clock started to tick.

Just don't forget the guy's genuine good heart. He did right by kids in St. Louis and will do so in Tampa Bay. While his baseball performance may forever be unpredictable, his generosity will never be in question.

Thanks for reading.

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