What a difference a year makes.
Last season, Joey Gallo was among the big trade deadline acquisitions for the New York Yankees, but now the team is holding discussions looking to ship him off as they look to put finishing touches on a potential World Series bound roster.
Audacy MLB insider Jon Heyman, in a story for the New York Post, reported that the Yankees have been conducting trade discussions centering around Gallo and have also had talks about potential replacements in the outfield, specifically with the Kansas City Royals involving Andrew Benintendi.
And despite Gallo’s struggles — .166/.288/.341/.665 10 home runs, 21 RBI and 92 strikeouts — there does appear to be some interested suitors.
Per Heyman, the likely candidates include the San Diego Padres and Texas Rangers — the latter of whom traded Gallo to the Yankees last summer.
Padres GM A.J. Preller was an executive with the Rangers and knows Gallo well, while San Diego could use another outfielder as they head into the thick of a playoff race. The Rangers, while under .500, still appear to be buyers at four games back in the wild-card race and could potentially bring back the slugger at a lower price than what they gave up for him.
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Gallo, who is a free agent at the end of the year, was a two-time All-Star with the Rangers, including last season when he hit 24 home runs before the All-Star break with the team.
Heyman noted that some around the league believe Gallo just needs a change of scenery.
Benintendi, on the other hand, has been a popular trade deadline name that has emerged with the Royals in clear position to sell at 31-52 and last in the AL Central.
Benintendi, a left-handed hitting outfielder who won a World Series with the Red Sox in 2018, is essentially the opposite type of Gallo — a contact hitter for average who entered Sunday slashing .317/.387/.402 with just three home runs but 34 RBI.
Per Heyman, the Yankees have so far found the price tag for the outfielder to be too high. The Royals are believed to be looking for at least one good prospect in return for Benintendi, who will also be a free agent at the end of the year.
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