The New York Yankees haven't lived up to expectations in 2021, but that didn't stop them from pulling off the season's biggest trade to date Wednesday.
Mere hours after Jack Curry of the YES Network tweeted that the Yankees were "pushing hard" for Texas Rangers All-Star slugger Joey Gallo, news broke that said push had succeeded:
The trade is unconfirmed for now and the exact structure of it isn't 100 percent clear. But according to Curry, it sounds as if it will be:
For the Yankees—who are 8.5 games out of first place in the American League East at 53-47—Gallo is obviously the centerpiece. This season has seen him post an .869 OPS and 25 home runs, plus six outs above average in right field. He's also making a modest $6.2 million, with another year of club control in 2022.
For his part, Rodriguez is a nice throw-in. His 31 appearances in 2021 have only yielded a 5.93 ERA, yet he's held left-handed batters to a .488 OPS.
Of the prospects going to Arlington, none of them cracked the club's top 10 in B/R's most recent rankings. According to MLB.com, though, Smith, Duran, Hauver and Otto ranked as the team's No. 14, 15, 23 and 28 prospects, respectively.
So even if they avoided giving up quality talents like outfielder Jasson Dominguez and shortstop Oswald Peraza, the Yankees surrendered quite a bit of quantity to get this deal done. Considering that they only had a middling farm system beforehand, that's not an insignificant sacrifice.
Which obviously leaves just one question: Is Gallo worth it?
Gallo Is an Absolutely Perfect Fit for the Yankees
If there's a way to pessimistically spin the Yankees acquiring a guy whose creds include two 40-homer seasons, two All-Star nods and a Gold Glove, it's that he's yet another all-or-nothing hitter for one of the most all-or-nothing lineups in Major League Baseball.
As personified by powerful yet whiff-prone sluggers Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, the Yankees offense ranks second in the American League at generating the three true outcomes: walks, strikeouts and home runs. Gallo, meanwhile, is far and away the league leader with a TTO% of 57.7. The next-closest guy is Shohei Ohtani at 50.9 percent.
Yet it's worth remembering that of the three true outcomes, two of them are good outcomes for offenses. Walks are fine. Home runs are even finer.
As evidenced by his MLB-high 74 walks, Gallo can handle the former. As for the latter, well, roll the tape:
More to one point, the Yankees badly needed a boost for an outfield that's produced minus-2.0 rWAR this season. More to another point, they needed a left-handed slugger to help improve the AL-low .338 slugging percentage they've gotten from the left side of the plate.
Gallo, of course, is both of these things.
By way of his 4.1 rWAR, he's arguably the best outfielder in baseball right now. So even if there's a question of whether he should supplant Judge in right field or play out of position in center or left, it's hard to any scenario in which the Yankees outfield is worse off with him.
Offensively, it's perhaps too easy to assume that Gallo's power will be even further amplified by Yankee Stadium's short right field porch. But, well, it should.
Allow Manny Randhawa of MLB.com to illustrate:
Yankee Stadium certainly couldn't be any more different from Globe Life Field, whose cavernous dimensions cost Gallo a few home runs (i.e., this one and this one) in the 72 games he played there since it opened in 2020.
Because he wasn't yet a regular when the Rangers went to the playoffs in 2015 and 2016, what Gallo lacks is postseason experience. But unless he can actually help the Yankees get there, worrying about that now is sort of putting the cart before the horse.
But Is Gallo the Yankees' Savior?
With back-to-back wins against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Yankees have managed to keep their hopes of winning the AL East somewhat alive.
Even still, they aren't exactly alive and well. According to FanGraphs, the Yankees entered 2021 with a 71 percent chance of winning the division. As they've battled all sorts of ups, downs, injuries and sudden rule changes, that chance is now south of 5 percent.
Gallo will help those odds, but he alone isn't going to put the AL East title back within reach. It would take trades for several Mike Trouts and maybe a prime-era Pedro Martinez to do that.
To this extent, the Gallo trade is a pretty big risk on the part of Yankees general manager Brian Cashman. It's a win-now move for a team that's only kinda-sorta winning now. And if it fails, the thought that Gallo will still be around in 2022 may only be so comforting.
With only one player ticketed for free agency this winter, the Yankees are lined up for an offseason in which they'll have to either stick with what's currently a deeply flawed roster or blow it up. At this point, it's not hard to imagine that neither Cashman or manager Aaron Boone won't still be around when that decision is made.
But if Cashman is merely hoping to salvage a wild-card berth and then hope for lightning in a bottle in October, he might be onto something.
Even though they're looking up at the Rays, Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners in the AL wild card race, the Yankees actually have about a 40 percent chance of getting into the playoffs through that door. And that's before Gallo's influence is factored in, much less anything else that might benefit the Yankees.
For instance, they still have time to make deals before the trade deadline passes at 4 p.m. ET Friday. Colorado Rockies shortstop Trevor Story, who the Yankees have reportedly made an offer on, is still in play. So are pitching upgrades, including Washington Nationals ace Max Scherzer if the Yankees can somehow convince him to waive his no-trade rights.
What's more, the Yankees will also get some reinforcements off the injured list in the weeks to come. In the short-term, 2020 home run leader Luke Voit will be back at first base in a matter of days. Hurlers Corey Kluber and Luis Severino won't be back that soon, but both of them could be back in the club's rotation alongside ace Gerrit Cole by September.
To be sure, this doesn't amount to a straight path to what would be the Yankees' first World Series since 2009. But it's at least a path, and it's certainly less long and winding than it was before the Gallo trade materialized.
In other words, it's a start.
Stats courtesy of Baseball Reference, FanGraphs and Baseball Savant.
Joey Gallo has a new home.
The New York Yankees upgraded their lineup by acquiring the Texas Rangers slugger as well as left-handed pitcher Joely Rodriguez ahead of Thursday's trade deadline.
Texas receives shortstop Josh Smith (New York's No. 14 prospect, per MLB.com), second baseman Ezequiel Duran (No. 15), second baseman/outfielder Trevor Hauver (No. 23) and right-handed pitcher Glenn Otto (No. 28).
Levi Weaver of The Athletic initially reported the deal.
Gallo is one of baseball's most dangerous power hitters. He's well on his way to his third 40-home run season, hitting .223 with 25 homers, 55 RBI, 57 runs and an .869 OPS. He ripped 41 homers in 2017 and 40 in 2018, though injuries limited him to 79 games in 2019 and the COVID-19 pandemic cut the 2020 campaign short.
The 27-year-old has generally played in the outfield but also could serve as the Yankees' DH.
Gallo is arbitration-eligible for one more season before he hits free agency ahead of the 2023 offseason. That factor, along with the Rangers stumbling to a putrid 36-65 record, made him a trade candidate.
"In my head and in my heart, I believe I will be a Ranger," he told reporters July 13. "But at the end of the day, I know it is a business and if the team feels it is fit better elsewhere, I will understand it."
The Rangers moved on as they stockpile young players and assets ahead of the July 30 trade deadline. The Yankees will be glad they did.
The 52-47 Bronx Bombers have been a disappointment, given the talent they've accumulated. But a lineup with Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Gleyber Torres, DJ LeMahieu and Gary Sanchez shouldn't struggle to score runs. And Gallo should provide a major upgrade in left field, with Brett Gardner and Clint Frazier toiling this year.
Gallo may not cure all of New York's ills, but he'll help.
The Boston Red Sox have reportedly engaged in "preliminary conversations" with the Chicago Cubs about first baseman Anthony Rizzo ahead of the 2021 MLB trade deadline on Friday.
ESPN's Jeff Passan reported Tuesday the league-wide level of interest in Rizzo is "not so robust" as compared to some of the Cubs' other trade candidates, but Boston is one of the clubs looking for a potential upgrade at first in the coming days.
The Red Sox own the best record in the American League at 62-39, 1.5 games ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays (60-40) in the AL East. They've enjoyed that success despite little production from their first basemen.
Bobby Dalbec, Danny Santana and Michael Chavis are among those who have spent time at the position, and Boston first basemen have posted a combined .244 on-base percentage, which is 30 points worse than any other MLB team has received from first base, per FanGraphs.
Rizzo has compiled a .346 OBP with 13 home runs across 90 games for the Cubs in 2021. He owns a career .370 OBP.
The 31-year-old Florida native is in the final season of a seven-year, $41 million contract. With his impending trip into free agency, the Cubs' struggles ahead of a possible deadline fire sale and the limited number of teams that seek upgrades at first base, Boston may be able to land him for a bargain price.
Rizzo's career accolades include four Gold Glove Awards and three All-Star selections. He'd upgrade first base for an otherwise strong Boston offense that ranks third in runs scored behind the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers.
"I have no idea what's going to happen," Rizzo told reporters Sunday. "It's been almost four years now since all this talk has been out there. I don't think really much has changed in that four years. But this could be it, yeah. And whenever that happens, we'll face that when it happens."
The Red Sox should have enough talent in their prospect pool to get a deal done. Although Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter ranked their system No. 21 overall after the 2021 draft, they had six prospects rated in his first or second tiers who could be of interest to Chicago, though Boston likely won't move any of its top prospects for a rental.
The trade makes sense on paper, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see the sides come to an agreement before the deadline.
The Tampa Bay Rays have reportedly held "preliminary discussions" about both Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer and Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant ahead of Friday's 2021 MLB trade deadline.
ESPN's Jeff Passan reported Tuesday the Rays are "expected to be active" to upgrade their roster before the deadline, even if they don't land one of those marquee names.
Tampa Bay is second in the AL East with a 60-40 record and 1.5 games behind the Boston Red Sox (62-39) in the division race. It tops the wild-card standings with a 5.5-game edge over the Seattle Mariners (55-46), who are currently the first team outside the playoff picture in the AL. Oakland is in the second wild-card slot at 56-45.
So the Rays are in a strong enough position to believe another deep playoff run is possible. They reached the World Series last year before falling short against the Los Angeles Dodgers in six games.
Scherzer struggled a bit by his high standards during the coronavirus-shortened 2020 campaign, posting a 3.74 ERA and 1.38 WHIP across 12 starts, but he's been right back to his dominant self this year. He's compiled a 2.83 ERA and 0.89 WHIP with 142 strikeouts in 105 innings.
Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post reported Monday the 37-year-old right-hander is "open" to a potential trade and wouldn't use his 10-and-5 rights to block a deal.
Scherzer would immediately take over as the ace for the Rays, who are without Tyler Glasnow because of an elbow injury.
Meanwhile, Bryant's story is much the same as the Nationals starter. He struggled last year to the tune of a career-low .644 OPS, but he's bounced right back to form with an .856 OPS and 17 home runs through 91 games for the Cubs in 2021.
The 29-year-old has posted those numbers while shifting around between first base, third base and all three outfield spots to give Chicago valuable lineup versatility.
The Rays have long been known for trying to find unique market deficiencies, and a player like Bryant, who can provide MVP-level offense while playing all over the diamond, could provide a major boost for a team whose bottom half of the batting order has struggled much of the season.
It's unclear whether Tampa Bay has the payroll flexibility to add the remaining salaries of both Scherzer ($34.6 million) and Bryant ($19.5 million), but both players are slated to become free agents at year's end, so it would be a short-term financial commitment to chase a title.
Even if the Rays can only land one marquee name before the deadline, it could be enough to shift the AL East in their favor if the Red Sox don't make any blockbuster moves.
The New York Yankees have made a trade offer to the Colorado Rockies for two-time All-Star Trevor Story, according to MLB Network's Jon Heyman.
Heyman added there was "no evidence of any traction there at this point," and that Colorado hasn't resigned itself to moving the shortstop prior to Friday's MLB trade deadline.
ESPN's Buster Olney reported last Thursday that the Yankees had "checked in" on Story, and the Milwaukee Brewers have done the same, per Heyman.
Because they're 19 games back of the first-place San Francisco Giants in the National League West, one would expect the Rockies to move Story by the end of the week. They could instead keep him through the rest of the year, extend him the qualifying offer, and then receive a compensation pick in the event he signs elsewhere.
The Athletic's Nick Groke labeled an inability to trade Story as a "significant failure" from Colorado's perspective.
The 28-year-old's performance might be complicating matters. Through 85 games, he has 12 home runs, 46 RBI and a .737 OPS. That last number is on pace to be a career low.
Story battled right elbow inflammation earlier in the year, which can perhaps explain his underwhelming production at the plate. Still, there's no getting around the fact his value has gone down from where it was in the offseason.
Heyman didn't provide specifics regarding the Yankees' offer, but the lack of an agreement between the two teams would seemingly indicate it wasn't up to the Rockies' expectations.
As the deadline inches closer, potential suitors may feel a level of desperation creeping in. But it's difficult to see how Colorado's leverage will improve significantly between now and then.
The New York Mets reportedly acquired veteran starting pitcher Rich Hill from the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday.
MLB Network's Jon Heyman reported the deal, with MLB Insider Robert Murray adding the deal is close. Joel Sherman of the New York Post said the Rays will receive veteran reliever Tommy Hunter and minor-league catcher Matt Dyer in return.
At 41 years of age, Hill is the oldest pitcher in Major League Baseball, and he is now set to join his 11th different MLB team.
In 2021, which is Hill's 17th MLB season, he has made 19 starts for the Rays. Hill has accrued a 6-4 record to go along with a 3.87 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 91 strikeouts over 95.1 innings.
While 12 of Hill's starts have lasted five innings or less, he figures to be a good fit at the back of New York's starting rotation.
When healthy, the Mets have one of the best starting pitching trios in the league with Jacob deGrom, Taijuan Walker and Marcus Stroman. Settling on the Nos. 4 and 5 starters has been difficult, though, especially with David Peterson and Joey Lucchesi landing on the injured list.
The sense of urgency to land another starter increased even more recently with deGrom landing on the 10-day IL as well.
Once deGrom returns, the Mets should have a solid starting five in place with deGrom, Walker, Stroman, Hill and Tylor Megill.
While Hill has never been named an All-Star or won a World Series, he has enjoyed a highly successful career. In 311 appearances, including 183 starts, Hill has posted a 73-48 record, 3.80 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 1,126 strikeouts over 1,071.1 innings.
Hill also has 13 games of postseason experience to his credit, including pitching in the World Series for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2017 and 2018.
Hunter, who is the best-known part of Tampa's return in the trade, is currently on the 60-day IL after initially being placed on the 10-day IL in May with lower back pain.
The 35-year-old Hunter has appeared in four games this season, posting a 0.00 ERA and striking out six in eight innings.
Hunter has pitched for seven different teams during his 14-year career. That includes a one-year stint with the Rays in 2017 when he went 3-5 with a 2.61 ERA over 61 outings.
In 476 career MLB regular-season appearances, Hunter is 56-45 with a 4.04 ERA.
The 23-year-old Dyer will likely be the biggest determining factor in who ultimately wins Friday's trade.
Dyer was a fourth-round draft pick of the Mets in 2020 out of the University of Arizona after hitting .393 in 2019. He dropped off significantly in 15 games for the Wildcats in 2020, though, hitting just .220.
The Phoenix native has appeared in 36 games for A-ball St. Lucie this season, playing catcher, first base, third base and right field. He is slashing .194/.329/.452 with seven home runs, 20 RBI and six stolen bases.
Adding Hill is a logical move for a Mets team that owns a four-game lead in the National League East, although the trade is somewhat curious for the Rays, as they are just one game out of first in the American League East and currently hold a wild-card spot.
The Tampa Bay Rays made the first major move of MLB's trade deadline season, acquiring Minnesota Twins slugger Nelson Cruz and minor league pitcher Calvin Faucher for two prospects.
Cruz, 41, remains one of the league's most impactful hitters with a slash line of .294/.370/.537 and 19 home runs. That should immediately help a Tampa lineup that ranks 13th among American League teams in batting average, slugging percentage and OPS out of the DH spot.
Here's a look at the Rays' likely lineup with Cruz in the fold.
Tampa Bay Rays Updated Lineup and Payroll
1. Brandon Lowe, RF
2. Randy Arozarena, LF
3. Wander Franco, 3B
4. Nelson Cruz, DH
5. Austin Meadows, CF
6. Joey Wendle, 2B
7. Yandy Diaz, 1B
8. Mike Zunino, C
9. Taylor Walls, SS
In return, the Twins received two right-handed hurlers, Joe Ryan and Drew Strotman. Ryan is the No. 10 prospect in the Rays' farm system per MLB Pipeline and has thrown 57 innings over 12 games in 2021, racking up a 3.63 ERA and 0.79 WHIP with 75 strikeouts on 10 walks issued at Triple-A Durham.
Strotman isn't far behind in the farm system. Ryan's teammate in Triple-A is the No. 17 prospect in the Rays organization and has racked up a 3.39 ERA over 58.1 innings with 62 strikeouts on 33 walks.
Once Minnesota (41-55) began sinking in the standings, moving Cruz began to feel inevitable. Even now in his 40s, Cruz remains one of baseball's most consistent hitters and a beloved teammate. He's also played in 46 postseason games, earning ALCS MVP with the Texas Rangers in 2011 after hitting six home runs with 13 RBI against the Detroit Tigers.
Now, Cruz goes from the bottom of the AL Central to a second-place Tampa team (57-39) in the AL East that's still in the race for a division title.
