National League MVP ballots were due before the first pitch of Wednesday’s wild-card game, and Pham is likely to get down-ballot support. In 128 games, his Wins Above Replacement according to FanGraphs was better than Nolan Arenado, 5.9 to 5.6, and according to Baseball-Reference.com’s WAR he edged Kris Bryant, 6.4 to 6.1. The only full-time outfielders who had a higher OPS than Pham’s .931 — that stat that caught his ear years ago — were Miami’s Giancarlo Stanton (1.007) and Colorado’s Charlie Blackmon (1.000). They both are likely to finish in the top five for MVP voting.

Not too shabby for a hitter who started the season in Class AAA, spied scouts from other teams videoing his every step, and was the subject of trade talks as late as July.

Those are just some of the reasons he bets the Cardinals will keep him.

“When you look at the production of what I’ve done there are three players in the big leagues that are .300-.400-.500 guys and are 20-20 guys,” Pham said. “Look at those other two players. Are those teams trying to trade those guys? Then the question is why would this team want to trade me? And, I’m not making much money. That wouldn’t be a smart deal.”

Pham offers another reason.

He has plans, specific plans, to get better.