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Analysis: Padres need Tommy Pham to be healthy, so he can help make their lineup healthier

The Padres clearly believe Tommy Pham is a player they need.

He is, so far, the player among the half-dozen they have added via trades and free agency this offseason that they envision contributing to a better (even contending) team in 2020.

He is, for them, a game-changer. He does things most of their other players have not, at least as well and/or as recently.

The idea of putting Pham in left field and batting him second between Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado virtually every day has the organization’s decision makers believing they’ve taken a significant step toward halting a team record-tying stretch of nine straight losing seasons.