The New York Yankees currently sit 8.5 games out of first place in the AL East in one of the most disappointing seasons in recent history. They are exceptionally average and with guns pointed at Aaron Boone and GM Brian Cashman, the organization decided to finally pull the trigger and trade for an All-Star.
Enter Joey Gallo.
The New York Yankees today announced that they have acquired INF/OF Joey Gallo, LHP Joely Rodriguez and cash considerations from the Texas Rangers in exchange for minor league right-handed pitcher Glenn Otto and infielders Ezequiel Duran, Trevor Hauver and Josh Smith.
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 29, 2021
The Yankees receive the outfield assistance they desperately need and didn’t need to give up any of their top 10 prospects in order to do so.
How does Joey Gallo fit with the Yankees?
Gallo fits the mold that this organization is dedicated to: three true outcomes. Home runs. Walks. Strikeouts. That’s Gallo’s bread and butter.
The Yankees rank 2nd in the AL in TTO% as a team. You know which individual player leads the league in three true outcome percentage? Yes, it’s Joey Gallo with 57.7. Shohei Ohtani is 2nd at 50.9% so Gallo does what the Yankees do better than anyone else in the league.
Aaron Judge currently leads the team with 21 home runs. Joey Gallo steps into the clubhouse with 25 homers. He’d instantly be the most powerful hitter in a lineup that includes Giancarlo Stanton and Gary Sanchez.
Gallo also leads the league with 74 walks. He will be on base every single game. Or hit a bomb into the Hudson River. I am okay with these potential outcomes.
We also can’t deny the Yankees hopelessness from the left side of the plate. Lefty batters for the Yankees have an AL-wort .388 slugging percentage. Cannot believe how much this team has had to rely on 57-year old Brett Gardner, who is frequently the only left-handed hitter in the lineup and his .194 batting average should highlight how badly New York needs Joey Gallo.
OH, and you cannot leave out that Gallo also has a Gold Glove in his trophy case. Brett Gardner and Clint Frazier simply do not have the ability to both catch and throw a baseball. As I’m writing this, I’m sure Frazier is running full sleep head first into the wall as a ball drops onto the warning track as Frazier concusses on the grass.
Gallo is also under contract through all of next season and Texas will be paying a majority of his salary. There is no way to spin this as a bad trade. The Yankees love grounding into double plays. Joey Gallo has only grounded into a double play 9 times in his entire career.
Joey Gallo grew up a Yankees, Giants and Knicks fan. This trade is already a win simply due to his great taste in teams pic.twitter.com/SD7AZSUjy8
— Dan Federico (@DanJFederico) July 29, 2021
He’s a lifelong Yankees fan. I’ll see you all at the World Series parade. Wear a fucking mask.
