The Nationals have made the Joey Gallo signing official, and to make room on the 40-man roster, catcher Israel Pineda was designated for assignment.
Gallo, 30, signed what is officially a one-year deal with a 2025 mutual option that will pay him anywhere from $5 to $11.5 million. He will make a base salary of $2.5 million this year, with an additional $200,000 incentive for each of 200, 300, 400, 500 and 600 plate appearances, and then there is an $8 million mutual option with a $2.5 million buyout for 2025.
Last year, Gallo slashed .177/.301/.440 with 21 home runs, 48 walks, and 142 strikeouts in 332 plate appearances for the Twins – a 63.6 percent ratio of the three true outcomes, and something the lefty slugger joked about in an appearance on Grant & Danny on Monday.
He also told G&D he will play a little first base and both outfield corners and can play center if needed, allowing the Nationals to deploy their slew of right-handed hitting outfielders and Joey Meneses in as rotational a manner as needed.
“I thought it was a great fit just in terms of where they're at right now and kind of where I'm at in my career,” Gallo told Grant & Danny. “I get a good opportunity to play every day and hopefully help some of these young guys out as somewhat of a veteran, so it’s exciting.”
Pineda, 23, was an international free agent signing in July 2016 and appeared in four games for the Nats in 2022, going 1-13 with a walk and seven strikeouts at the plate after having his contract purchased in September.
He missed the first four months of 2023 due to a fractured finger, and ended up hitting .176 with three homers in 41 games across three levels. Because the injury happened while he was on the 40-man roster, he has credit for nearly a year of service time despite just four games played.
The Nationals have seven days to trade or release Pineda if he clears waivers, and any team he goes to could have at least six seasons of team control and two minor-league options on him.