I’ll be blunt. I hate this trade.
Before I explain why, I’ll provide a few caveats.
Big one: We are early in the hot stove season. Winter meetings haven’t even started. So moving Pham could look quite different if the Rays have plans to bring in another top line offensive player. Maybe they are talking to Anthony Rendon! Maybe they are trading for someone really fabulous! Maybe when the dust has settled I’ll say “Ah, THAT was the plan.”
But today, on its own, I hate this trade.
Second caveat: My love for Tommy Pham emerged pretty much the day he came to the Rays so I am probably not assessing this with complete rationality.