Joey Gallo is officially a Yankee, and manager Aaron Boone is looking forward to plugging the lefty power bat into the Bombers’ righty-heavy lineup.
“Everyone talks all the time about us and how right handed we can be,” Boone told reporters before Thursday’s series finale against the Rays. “[Rougned Odor] doing what he’s done the last month or two has given us a little bit of balance…bringing the guys we brought up, the Greg Allens that have filled in really well…we’ve been more balanced of late, but adding a guy like Joey Gallo that is an impact player, impact hitter, that we can plug in the middle of our order to give us a little more balance and make our lineup that much longer and heavier, I’m really excited about that.”
The deal, officialy announced by the Yankees on Thursday afternoon, also includes lefty reliever Joely Rodriguez, but the headliner is obviously Gallo, who brings plus outfield defense, the most walks in the league this season and 25 home runs. Gallo was named to his second All-Star team this season as well.
“We’re incredibly excited to add two players that we feel like are really gonna help us,” Boone said. “Obviously, the talk of Joey Gallo, I’m thrilled he’s coming to join the fold. This is obviously a tremendous player. hopefully people are talking about what a tremendous all-around player we’re getting., a really good athlete, a guy that runs the bases, has speed, a really good defender in the outfield, and obviously the tremendous power and patience that he has.”
Gallo is prone to strikeouts, fanning 125 times so far this season and 36.7 percent of the time over the course of his career. While many already criticize the Yankees’ strikeout-heavy lineup, Boone is far more focused on the value Gallo brings to the table, particularly his power and his .379 on base percentage.
“I’m not concerned that we’re adding a guy that gets on base 38 percent of the time and hits the ball over the fence, and we’ve seen over the last month or two a guy that’s really started to take off again,” Boone said. “He’s a great player. Sign me up for the guy that’s on base almost 40 percent of the time and has the kind of power and provides the kind of potential balance for our lineup, and on top of that, is a two-way player.”
Boone said the hope is to have Gallo and Rodriguez with the team come Friday in Miami.
“I hope so,” Boone said. “We’ll see. I think they’re going through saying their goodbyes and getting packed up and all that goes through getting traded at the deadline. I’ve been there. It’s a whirlwind, it’s a crazy time. But the hope is to have them in Miami with us.
“We’re really excited. Excited to see them in Miami. I think we got a lot better today.”
While the Yankees certainly improved, the trade deadline isn’t until Friday, and with the Rangers eating Gallo and Rodriguez’s 2021 salaries, the Yanks can make another move without clearing the luxury tax threshold, and Boone knows the front office will be scouring the field for more potential upgrades.
“We’ll see,” Boone said. “I know, talking to Cash this morning, they’re set up in the war room already, and I know still exploring things. I wouldn’t rule anything out.”
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
Follow WFAN on Social Media
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Twitch
