A pair of 2023 Diamondbacks are on the move this week. Catcher Carson Kelly is headed to Texas and outfielder Tommy Pham is going back to the St. Louis Cardinals. Both players will be free agents after this season.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Kelly, 30, was the centerpiece in the Paul Goldschmidt trade in December 2018. Injuries prevented him from developing into a potential All-Star backstop and his offensive production was poor the past few seasons. He was released in August 2023 once Gabriel Moreno showed he could handle being the everyday catcher. He rebounded in 2024 and made himself an appealing trade candidate. The Tigers capitalized, landing right-hander Tyler Owens and catcher Liam Hicks.
Kelly should be an upgrade over Andrew Knizer, who has put up a miserable .167/.183/.211 slash in 93 PA with the Rangers. He joins a catcher room that has seen starting backstop Jonah Heim take massive steps backward offensively on top of Knizer’s struggles at the plate. When healthy, Kelly is a capable defensive catcher behind the plate who can put up solid numbers at the plate.
Pham, 36, was a key deadline pickup for the Diamondbacks last season. While the price was the young, but talented shortstop Jeremy Rodriguez, the veteran outfielder was worth the price. Pham’s numbers didn’t jump off the page, hitting .241 with six homers, 11 steals, and a .720 OPS, but he provided a level of intensity and preparation for a young core of players about to embark on their first postseason run.
He was instrumental in the team’s series sweep of the Dodgers in the National League Division Series, hit a huge home run in Game 6 of the Championship Series that flipped the script, and had a four-hit game in Game 2 of the World Series. Pham ended up signing a deal with the White Sox and like Kelly, made himself a great trade target with a strong season.
The Diamondbacks will see Kelly later this season when the Rangers come into town in August, but will not see Pham again in the regular season.
*Get the BEST Phoenix sports insider information, exclusive content, and access to our seasonal magazines! SIGN UP HERE to unlock our premium content!*
Michael McDermott covers the Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Cardinals, and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @MichaelMcDMLB
