The most high-profile competition for a roster spot in Spring Training for the 2017 St. Louis Cardinals was one between two career (mostly) minor league outfielders who were seemingly competing for their last real chance at a Major League job—Tommy Pham and Jose Martinez.
Tommy Pham was the best player on the Cardinals in 2017, despite losing out on the final spot to Martinez. He finished 11th in National League Most Valuable Player voting and cemented his role in the future of the Cardinals—when the Cardinals acquired Marcell Ozuna, who plays Pham’s 2017 position in left field, it was announced that the Cardinals would move 2017 center fielder Dexter Fowler to right field in order to accommodate Tommy Pham in center.