DALLAS (105.3 The Fan) - Rangers outfielder Joey Gallo is reportedly a target for teams in need of an outfielder, Audacy Sports insider Jon Heyman reported Monday.
Heyman added that it's not known "how available he is yet," nor did he name any of the interested teams in his report.
The Yankees and White Sox are among the teams who have a need in the outfield due to Eloy Jimenez (White Sox), Luis Robert (White Sox) and Aaron Hicks (Yankees) being lost to significant injuries.
Rangers GM Chris Young was asked about the report during his appearance Monday on the GBag Nation on 105.3 The Fan.
"There's always interest in Joey because he's a very good player. But I would not say there's anything different as compared to the offseason, or from what I understand going back to last year. So I don't know where that (report came from). Certainly, and I told Joey this, we're very happy with the way he's played. The effort, the intensity, the positivity, the leadership he's exhibited this season. We're hopeful that his power will continue to come and he certainly has a presence in our lineup."
The Rangers had an opportunity to move Gallo at last year's trade deadline, but the club's then GM and now president of baseball operations Jon Daniels said they didn't move the slugger because the value in the offers he was getting just wasn't there.
"We understand our path to contention involves building the team and developing and acquiring young players. But when the deal wasn't there I wouldn't have been comfortable making some of the trades that we could have made. I just don't think our fans would have been very happy about it had we done it."
Gallo is eligible for arbitration in next season and is an unrestricted free agent in 2023. The 27-year-old is hitting .233 with seven home runs and 21 RBI this season.