The New York Yankees and Texas Rangers broke news of a trade on Wednesday night. The Yankees have acquired all-star outfielder Joey Gallo from the Texas Rangers, pending medical clearance. In return, the Rangers will receive right-handed pitcher Glenn Otto, second baseman Ezequiel Duran, shortstop Josh Smith, and second baseman/outfielder Trevor Hauver.
The news started speculating when the Rangers scratched Gallo from Wednesday night’s game against the Diamondbacks. It was announced shortly after that Gallo was on the move to New York.
Gallo, a two-time American League All-Star has spent all seven of his major league seasons with the Rangers. He has a career .211 average, .336 on-base percentage, .497 slugging, a .833 OPS. He has a career 74 doubles, 7 triples, 145 home runs, 317 RBI’s 319 runs scored, and 26 stolen bases.
So far in 2021, Gallo is batting .223/.379/.490, with a .869 OPS. Gallo has six doubles, one triple, and 25 home runs this season. His 25 home runs ranks sixth in the American league.
Not only is Gallo strong at the plate, but he is strong with his glove too. He won a gold glove in 2020 and leads the major leagues with 14 defensive runs saved this season.
The Rangers are getting a good group of prospects in return for Gallo.
Right-handed pitcher Glenn Otto, the Yankees No. 28 prospect, was drafted by the Yankees in the fifth round of the 2017 MLB Draft. He has spent the 2021 season between Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton. He has a combined 7-3 record with a 3.33 ERA between Double-A and Triple-A, with 115 strikeouts over the course of 12 starts.
Glenn Otto (Robert M Pimpsner)
Second baseman Ezequiel Duran is the Yankees’ No. 15 prospect. He is batting .290/.374/.533, with a .907 OPS. He has 15 doubles, six triples, and 12 home runs in an impressive season with High-A Hudson Valley. He has 48 RBI’s, 42 runs scored, and 12 stolen bases. He has played very well this season with High-A.
Yankees infield prospect Ezequiel Duran at the plate during a minor league spring training game on March 12, 2019.. (Robert M. Pimpsner/Pinstriped Prospects)
Smith, the right-handed second baseman from Louisiana State was drafted in the second round of the 2019 MLB draft. He has split the 2021 season between Low-A Tampa and High-A Hudson Valley. Smith has also been hitting very well this season. He has hit .321/.448/.641, with a 1.089 OPS between Tampa and Hudson Valley, with 12 doubles, three triples, 24 RBI’s, and 44 runs scored. He also has 17 stolen bases.
LSU shortstop Josh Smith throws to first for the out on Mississippi State’s Justin Foscue during the first inning of a Southeastern Conference tournament NCAA college baseball game Friday, May 24, 2019, in Hoover, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Hauver (22) is in his first season in the minor leagues. He was drafted by the Yankees in the third round of the 2020 MLB draft out of Arizona State. The right-handed second baseman is hitting .288/.445/.498, with a .943 OPS in his first season, with three triples, 9 home runs, 49 RBI’s, 48 runs scored, and two stolen bases.
The Yankees currently sit in third place in the AL East, three games behind Boston, while also trailing the Rays for second place. There hope is Gallo can help produce some offensive power and kick-start their offense into gear to make a run at playoffs.
The deal is not final until Gallo has cleared the Medical checks.
