Royals claim OFs Tommy Pham, Robbie Grossman off waivers

Field Level Media|published: Sat 31st August, 15:12 2024

MLB: Tampa Bay Rays at St. Louis Cardinals

Aug 6, 2024; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals left fielder Tommy Pham (29) hits a two run home run against the Tampa Bay Rays during the second inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

With a potential playoff berth in sight, the Kansas City Royals made a pair of claims off the waiver wire, adding outfielders Tommy Pham and Robbie Grossman on Saturday.

Both players participated in last year's World Series, with Pham on the Arizona Diamondbacks and Grossman playing for the champion Texas Rangers.

Kansas City lost first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino to a broken thumb earlier this week.

Pham was designated for assignment by the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday.

Pham, 36, batted .206 with two homers and 12 RBIs in 23 games for St. Louis after being acquired from the Chicago White Sox at the trade deadline. He hit .266 with five homers and 19 RBIs in 70 games with the White Sox.

Pham was in his second tour of duty with St. Louis. He was with the Cardinals from 2014-18 and smacked a career-best 23 homers in 2017.

Pham is a .258 career hitter with 137 homers, 462 RBIs and 125 steals in 1,098 career games over 11 seasons. He also has played for the Tampa Bay Rays (2018-19), San Diego Padres (2020-21), Cincinnati Reds (2022), Boston Red Sox (2022) and New York Mets (2023).

Grossman, 34, was placed on waivers by the Rangers on Thursday and then started for Texas on Friday since he had yet to be claimed. He went 1-for-3 in a 9-2 loss to the Oakland Athletics in his final game for Texas.

For his 12-year career, Grossman is hitting .243 with 93 homers and 429 RBIs in 1,197 games with the Houston Astros (2013-15), Minnesota Twins (2016-18), Oakland Athletics (2019-20), Detroit Tigers (2021-22), Atlanta Braves (2022), Rangers (2023, 2024) and White Sox.

Grossman appeared in seven postseason games for the Rangers in 2023 when they won the World Series.

To make room on the 40-man roster, the Royals designated for assignment two players: catcher Austin Nola and third baseman CJ Alexander. Nola, 34, was at Triple-A Omaha, while Alexander, 28, had one hit in eight at-bats for Kansas City this season.

The Royals entered play Saturday with a 75-61 record and in possession of one of three wild-card playoff spots in the American League.

--Field Level Media