Tommy Pham Signs Orioles Minor League Deal With Early-June Opt-Out
Tommy Pham signed a minor league deal with the Orioles, and the contract gives him an early-June opt-out if Baltimore has not added him to the active roster. For the club, it is a low-cost depth move during a stretch when its outfield and corner-bat options are thin.
Pham Joins Baltimore
The move gives Baltimore another right-handed bat without forcing an immediate roster decision. If Pham’s contract is selected and he appears in a game for the Orioles, he would become the 24th player and ninth position player to suit up for 11 different MLB teams in his career.
That path fits a player who reached free agency after a short stay with the Mets. Pham signed a minors deal with New York on March 26, had his contract selected on April 12, then went hitless over 14 plate appearances and nine games before being designated for assignment in late April.
Orioles Depth Needs
Baltimore’s roster picture helps explain why the signing is useful. Taylor Ward and Tyler O’Neill are the primary corner outfielders, Ryan Mountcastle is on the 60-day injured list, Jordan Westburg is out for the season, and Dylan Beavers and Heston Kjerstad are also on the injured list.
Pham’s own recent line gives the Orioles a clear baseline. He hit.245/.330/.370 over 449 plate appearances for the Pirates in the 2025 season, and his best route back to an active roster spot in Baltimore is straightforward: perform well enough before the early-June opt-out window closes.
Kjerstad And Basallo
Heston Kjerstad is making progress on a minor league rehab assignment, while Samuel Basallo is expected to remain the regular designated hitter when he is not spelling Adley Rutschman behind the plate. That leaves Baltimore managing pieces across several spots rather than locking into one fixed lineup.
Pham’s contract also keeps the financial commitment light. Baltimore would owe only the prorated portion of the roughly $1.65 million remaining on his Mets salary for any time he spends on the 26-man roster, a small price for a player who can still move quickly if the Orioles need another bat before June.
