ARLINGTON, Texas — Playing in the World Series this year seemed realistic for Tommy Pham when he signed with the Mets in January.

The veteran outfielder made it, just without the Mets.

An underachieving roster turned the Mets into sellers by the trade deadline, which included shipping Pham to the Diamondbacks, with whom he will play in the World Series beginning Friday night against the Rangers.

Pham said Thursday that when he signed with the Mets, “On paper, I was just like, ‘Man, we’re that team.’ ”

Except, of course, the Mets were unable to play up to their potential.

“That team [the Mets] is more talented than this team [the Diamondbacks],” Pham said Thursday at Globe Life Field. “Let’s be honest here. But what makes this team different is everyone is still at this level trying to reach their max potential.

“My max potential now might be average everyday player. I’m still trying to play like ’17, ’18, ’19. That’s what keeps driving me. I’m trying to prove I still got that in me.

“The drive wasn’t there [with the Mets]. That drive is here [with the Diamondbacks]. That’s what separates this team from most teams. You have guys that are still trying to get better every day. You have teammates trying to help you out. And that’s dangerous.”

Pham’s comments echoed what he previously told Francisco Lindor and then The Athletic — that the Mets were the “least-hardest working group of position players I’ve ever played with.”

Pham said Thursday that his former teammates knew where he was coming from and that there are “no hard feelings” with the Mets.

“I do feel like there’s a level of expectations and preparation and work ethic going into the game,” Pham said. “I was very honest. I just didn’t feel like it was being met as a whole. … If anyone disagrees with me over there, you gotta take a long look in the mirror and be a very honest self evaluator.”

But Pham added that he does not see the Mets as a team that will be struggling for long.

“There’s guys over there that are hungry,” he said. “You have an owner that cares about winning.

“And I’m a free agent,” he added with a laugh.

— Additional reporting by Joel Sherman