Prior to the 2021 MLB trade deadline, the New York Yankees acquired slugging outfielder Joey Gallo from the Texas Rangers in what was considered a significant move at the time.
With the Rangers, Gallo hit 145 career home runs in 568 games, including multiple 40-homer seasons, with an .833 on-base plus slugging percentage and elite outfield defense.
However, with the Yankees, Gallo has been unable to find his stride. In New York, the left-handed hitter has batted just .159/.291/.368/.660 with 25 home runs over 140 games.
Although Gallo has never been one to post a high batting average, his numbers across the board represent a significant decline in production and it led to the Yankees looking to move on from him just one year later.
According to Pat Ragazzo of Sports Illustrated, the Los Angeles Dodgers traded for Gallo and sent Clayton Beeter to the Yankees:
Joey Gallo to Dodgers for Beeter per sources pending medical
— Pat Ragazzo (@ragazzoreport) August 2, 2022
Trading for Gallo seemingly signals a belief he can rebound to form when he was one of baseball’s most intriguing players with a profile similar to Max Muncy that combined elite power with a good eye and quality defense.
In his career, Gallo has been named to two All-Star teams and won two Gold Glove Awards, so perhaps a change of scenery from the high-pressure market of New York would do him wonders. He also has experience playing all three outfield spots and both corner infield positions, which should make him more intriguing to the Dodgers.
Beeter’s time with the organization comes to an end since being taken by the Dodgers with the No. 66 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft.
Dodgers trade deadline targets
The Dodgers did appear to be targeting a left-handed hitting outfielder as they remained in the mix for Washington Nationals superstar Juan Soto before the San Diego Padres reached a tentative agreement, and showed interest in Andrew Benintendi prior to being acquired by the Yankees, and David Peralta before the Tampa Bay Rays landed him.
L.A. additionally has been linked to Chicago Cubs utilityman Ian Happ.
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