Dodgers could look to acquire Reds' Tommy Pham via trade after Mookie Betts injury

Los Angeles Dodgers' right fielder Mookie Betts landed on the 10-day IL with a broken rib. The Athletics' Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the LA is looking for a right-handed outfield bat to platoon with Eddy Alvarez. Would Cincinnati Reds left fielder Tommy Pham fit the bill?

The Reds will be a popular team for opposing GMs to call in the next few weeks. The Reds are 20 games under-.500 and virtually assured of a losing season. As such, Cincinnati will most certainly be sellers at the trade deadline.

The Dodgers are on the other end of the spectrum. Los Angeles is in a dead-heat with the San Diego Padres for first-place in the NL West. The San Francisco Giants are dangerously close to both the Dodgers and the Padres in the standings as well.

A player like Pham could be of use to several teams looking to contend for the postseason. Pham is a free agent after this season, but does have a mutual option as part of his pact with the Reds. Cincinnati could and should be looking to trade the 34-year-old before the MLB trade deadline.

Would the Dodgers be interested in trading for Tommy Pham?

Tommy Pham isn't having an All-Star season, but he's played above-average for the majority of his time with the Cincinnati Reds in 2022. Pham is slashing .258/.358/.431 with nine home runs and 26 RBIs. His OPS+ of 111 is higher than it's been the past two seasons, and according to Baseball Savant, Pham's average exit velocity is in the 95th percentile.

There are some questions about some of Pham's off-the-field antics, including slapping Joc Pederson prior to game earlier this season, but it appears as though most of the outfielder's teammates enjoy playing alongside him.

Pham is much more accustomed to playing in left field versus right field, starting just one game there since 2017. But the Dodgers pride themselves on being one of the most versatile teams in the league. With the likes of Chris Taylor on the roster, I'm sure the Dodgers could find some way to get Pham's bat in the lineup on a regular basis until Mookie Betts returns.

No, I don't believe Tommy Pham to the Los Angeles Dodgers is a perfect fit, but I don't expect the Cincinnati Reds to hang on to the Las Vegas native much longer. Pham, along with Brandon Drury, represents the type of players contending teams will be looking to add in the coming weeks.