Former Cardinals hitter makes a good start to his new team after recent DFA decision

In the past, the St. Louis Cardinals have repeatedly cut good players from their roster, only to make them more successful after a transfer or move to a new team.

For example, the Cardinals recently traded outfielder Dylan Carlson to the Tampa Bay Rays after the young switch hitter had problems at bat in St. Louis in 2024. However, after moving to the American League East club, he has turned things around and is playing significantly better.

Not long after Carlson was traded, another Cardinals outfielder is hoping to prove himself after a good start with his new team.

Kansas City Royals outfielder Tommy Pham — recently signed by St. Louis after being designated for assignment on August 30 — has performed well since his arrival with the other I-70 club. On Wednesday night, the former Cardinals veteran hit a three-run home run to help his team to a 4-1 victory over the AL Central-leading Cleveland Guardians.

Pham has posted a slash line of .294/.294/.529 with five hits, one home run and three RBIs in 17 at-bats since joining the Royals the day after he was DFAed by the Cardinals.

The 36-year-old was dropped by St. Louis nearly a month after Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak insisted on including Pham in the three-way deal that also included the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox by this summer's trade deadline.

While it was difficult to say goodbye to the popular veteran, letting him go was the best solution for both the Cardinals and Pham – it gave him a chance to land with a stronger playoff contender and freed up a roster spot for St. Louis to give them more opportunities to test promising talent before the end of the major league season.

Based on Pham's performance during his brief reunion with St. Louis, it's safe to say he still has plenty of fighting spirit left in him. It will be interesting to see what kind of impact he will have on the rest of Kansas City's season.

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