Tommy Pham, Robbie Grossman claimed by Royals

The Royals claimed two veteran outfielders off waivers on Saturday, adding Tommy Pham from the Cardinals and Robbie Grossman from the Rangers.

Pham was designated for assignment by the Cardinals on Friday, while Grossman was placed on outright waivers the same day, opening the door for other teams to add them. Sunday is the deadline by which players must be in an organization to be eligible for postseason rosters.

To make room on the 40-man roster, the Royals designated infielder CJ Alexander and catcher Austin Nola for assignment. The team expects both Pham and Grossman to report on Sunday, so corresponding 26-man roster moves will be made then. Rosters expanding to 28 players – giving teams an extra position player and pitcher – on Sunday takes care of one spot, but the Royals will have to make one more corresponding move to add the second player.

The Royals have been interested in Pham this season and explored trading for him at the Trade Deadline before the Cardinals acquired him and Erick Fedde in a three-team trade with the White Sox and Dodgers.

The 36-year-old began the year with Chicago and slashed .266/.330/.380 with 14 doubles and five homers in 70 games. Since then with St. Louis, Pham slashed .206/.286/.368 in 23 games. He can play both corners in the outfield and adds a veteran right-handed presence to the Royals’ lineup.

Grossman, 34, has made a career out of tormenting left-handed pitching with an .809 career OPS against southpaws. The corner outfielder, who also started this season with the White Sox, hasn’t been as productive against righties this year, with a .172/.277/.207 line against them. The Royals could certainly use his bat off the bench against lefties, however.

Kansas City has been scouring the waiver market to add any kind of depth for this last month of the season, and especially after losing first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino to a broken right thumb on Thursday night against the Astros. Pasquantino had surgery on Friday and will likely be out for the rest of the regular season.

Manager Matt Quatraro said he plans on rotating players to play first base, including catcher Salvador Perez, utility man Nick Loftin and outfielders Garrett Hampson, Adam Frazier and even MJ Melendez. When Hunter Renfroe (right hamstring strain) returns from the injured list, he could also be a substitution at first base.

That creates open spots in the outfield, which was an area of need for the Royals at the Trade Deadline because of their lack of production there. The Royals didn’t find any deals they were willing to make then but still had ways to add in late August with non-contending teams placing players on waivers.

Both Pham and Grossman could also fit at the top of the lineup, a huge area of need for Kansas City. Royals leadoff hitters have posted the fifth-worst average in baseball this year entering Saturday, and have a .616 OPS that’s 30th in the Majors.