The Reds trading Tommy Pham is a real slap in the face

The Cincinnati Reds have sold outfielder and hitting artist Tommy Pham to the Boston Red Sox.

Tommy Pham, dealer of The Slap Heard “Around the World”. earlier this season, was traded on Boston Red Sox. While this move probably won’t count as one of the most impactful deals, it’s certainly a slap in the face for a player of Pham’s stature.

Well, it sounds like he’s going off Cincinnati Red being a part of the Red Sox Phamily.

All puns aside, Pham has had a bad year for the struggling Reds, who currently sit 40-61, 16.5 GB of the first-seeded Brewers in the NL Central. Pham has 11 homers and 39 RBI in 91 games for Cincy with an 88 OPS+.

Reds: Tommy Pham traded to Boston

The Red Sox are walking a fine line in this year’s deadline, choosing a stance right in the middle between buying and selling assets. With Christian Vazquez changes shelters and en route to the Astros, Boston immediately struck another deal by bolstering its outfield.

As things currently stand for the Red Sox, the outfield picture consists of Alex Verdugo, Jarren Duran and Jackie Bradley Jr. left to right. While Verdugo is a solid contributor in this lineup, Duran and JBJ were underperforming offensive players (although their gloves were great for the Sox).

Pham will add some pop to this lineup and is capable of playing all three outfield courts, splitting the majority of his time between left and center in the big leagues.

Pham, who is a season-ending free agent, has postseason experience (2015 with the Cardinals, 2019 with the Rays, and 2020 with the Padres). Plate appearances in post-season career.

The trade return has not yet been announced, but the Reds are unlikely to receive much consideration for Pham’s services as he is an aging veteran whose on-field performance has begun to decline in recent years.