Deal to acquire Gallo getting finalized
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — With the teams they will have to fight off for a playoff spot bulking up their rosters the past few days, the Yankees finally were making a move to improve their lineup too.
As the Yankees were on the field playing the Rays, the front office was nearing a deal to acquire Rangers outfielder Joey Gallo, an industry source said. ESPN first reported the deal.
The 27-year old power hitter has long been linked to the Yankees and was the player most industry sources thought the Bombers would end up with before Friday’s 4 p.m. trade deadline.
“He hits ’em a long way,” one talent evaluator said. “He also strikes out a lot. He gives them some balance, but I am not sure power was their biggest problem.”
His lefty bat does give the Yankees more balance.
Gallo is hitting .223/.379/.490 with an .869 OPS. He has drawn a careerhigh 74 walks already this season but has also struck out 125 times in 310 at-bats. He’s hit 25 homers and driven in 55 runs for the Rangers in 95 games. He is an athletic outfielder, among the top in baseball in outs above average.
Gallo is also not a rental. He is under team control through 2023, with another year of arbitration. He is making $6.2 million this season.
Late Tuesday night the Yankees started making room on the payroll to stay under the luxury tax threshold for a move like this.
They sent Luis Cessa and Justin Wilson to the Red for a player to be named later. A Reds source said the return would be “nothing of consequence.”
Judge surprise scratch: After just one game back after missing nine, Aaron Judge was a last-minute scratch from the Yankees’ lineup for Wednesday night’s second game of a series against the Rays. The team offered no explanation at the time it announced the lineup change.
The slugger had come off the COVID-19 list Tuesday night and hit a single. He was also hit by a pitch.
Yankees notes: Luis Severino will throw a simulated game Thursday before heading back out on a rehab assignment. The right-hander injured his right groin as he was rehabbing from March 2020 Tommy John surgery. The Yankees hoped to have him back in their rotation by Friday’s trade deadline, but he will more likely be an August return . ... Manager Aaron Boone would not rule out slugger Luke Voit being back in his lineup Thursday, but he is confident the 2020 home run king will be back by his weekend . ... Converted outfielder Miguel Andujar is still not close to returning after having two shots to manage the pain in his strained left wrist.