Joey Gallo rumors: 2 teams willing to take on struggling Yankees slugger

Twi teams are reportedly interested in trading for struggling Yankees slugger Joey Gallo.

MLB trade deadline season is upon us at last. Many big names figure to be on the move over the course of the next month or so including Luis Castillo, Frankie Montas, Trey Mancini and Willson Contreras to name a few.

However, none of these players are likelier to be dealt than Joey Gallo of the New York Yankees. Known for his light-tower power and home runs that fly farther than anybody else’s in the league, holes in Gallo’s game have been more exposed this year than ever before in the spotlight of the Bronx.

Gallo, 28, has the tools necessary to be a star at the big league level. His beautiful left-handed swing is one of the few in the game of baseball capable of hitting 50+ bombs a year. He also has been known to possess a great eye at the plate, some high-IQ baserunning capabilities and even some defensive versatility as he has lined up at the corner infield spots and all three outfield spots.

While the walks and home runs are aplenty, so are the strikeouts for Gallo. He has topped the dreaded 200-K plateau twice in his eight year career and seems to be headed for a third time this season. The Yankees front office and fans will not allow him to be on this team for much longer and all signs are pointing to him becoming (very much) available at this year’s trade deadline.

Yankees rumors: Joey Gallo receiving interest on trade market from 2 teams

Per MLB insider Jon Heyman, two clubs are known to have at least some level of interest in trading for Gallo’s services; the Texas Rangers and the San Diego Padres.

The Rangers interest in Gallo is especially noteworthy as they are the very club that traded him to the Yankees last season. While the Rangers landed a huge haul of prospects that are beginning to make it to the big league level, the Yankees were stuck with Gallo and left-handed reliever Joely Rodríguez, who is already off of the team.

Gallo, a free agent at season’s end, could immediately slot into the Rangers everyday lineup either as an outfielder or designated hitter. Texas is currently giving the majority of the DH at-bats to catcher Mitch Garver, who is likely to miss the rest of the season with injury at the conclusion of the current series against his former team, the Twins.

While the Rangers are nowhere near contention, the Padres are very much eyeing a postseason berth. The club is 49-37 entering today and is just 7.0 games back of the Dodgers and would have an NL Wild Card spot locked down if the season ended today.

The Friars currently have Nomar Mazara, Trent Grisham and José Azocar in their everyday lineup from left to right. Mazara has looked strong in a relatively small sample size and both Grisham and Azocar have yet to contribute much to the lineup. Former Yankee Luke Voit is getting the majority of the DH at-bats but he is also struggling to get going.

An addition of Gallo would supply any team that traded for him with immense power and potential. He would serve strictly as a rental piece and when he gets hot, he gets hot. The Padres would be an ideal trade destination as they look to add some thump to their lineup on the way to October.