38-year-old Tommy Pham ready to leave ‘everything on the table’ in return to Mets

Even after waiting all offseason to find a new club, Tommy Pham didn’t consider hanging up the spikes.

It took him right up until a couple of hours before first pitch on Opening Day, but Pham did finally land himself a deal, rejoining the Mets on a minor league pact.

He spent the past couple of weeks building himself up in the lower levels of the system, but was called upon on Monday to help spark the struggling club.

“Happy to be back, happy to be up here,” Pham said prior to Monday’s game in Los Angeles. “Still some familiar faces here, lot of smiles on the faces today, so I’m happy that I could provide some sunshine.”

The Mets are hoping that Pham can provide more than just smiles, though.

He’s already been inserted directly into the starting lineup, batting seventh and playing LF, and Carlos Mendoza has heard nothing but good things about his new veteran.

“Competitor, a pro, he goes about his business the right way,” the skipper said Monday. “When word got out I got a couple of texts from ex-coaches of his telling me how much you’re going to love this guy -- he knows what it takes to play in New York and wants to be a part of it.”

Mendoza expects to mainly use Pham against lefty pitching, but thinks he still feels has a lot to offers this team as a right-handed bat off the bench.

Heading into his 13th MLB season, the 38-year-old certainly agrees.

“Body-wise, I’m in better shape than a lot of guys in the league,” Pham said. “That’s just because of how I work in the offseason -- I signed two weeks ago so I still feel there’s a bit left that I need to handle, but for the most part I’m great.

“I show up. I prepare. I’m just a pro. I know how to play the game, I love the game, that’s what you’re going to get -- one thing I told myself this year is I’m going to go harder because I was thinking I want to leave everything on the table.”