In a piece today, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News calls upon the Rangers to commit to a path with young slugger Joey Gallo this winter. It’s a major question for Texas, with several possible strategies, so it seems worth posing the matter to MLBTR’s readers.
Though he’s still just 22 years of age, and continues to carry jaw-dropping power potential, Gallo wasn’t deemed worthy of a significant chance at major league action last year. He ultimately struck out 19 times and recorded just one hit in thirty MLB plate appearances scattered over 17 games. But Gallo continued to thrive at Triple-A, where he banged out 25 home runs and posted a .240/.367/.529 slash over 433 plate appearances.
The biggest question mark on Gallo remains the strikeouts. He walks quite a bit — 15.7% over his Triple-A season and 13.1% over his 153 MLB plate appearances — so it’s not as if he lacks for zone awareness. But Gallo has also struck out in just under half of his trips to the plate in his brief time in the majors while swinging through 22.5% of the pitches he offered at. (Khris Davis was worst among qualified MLB hitters last year with 16.6%.) And while Gallo trimmed his K rate a bit at the highest level of the minors in 2016, he faded after a promising start in that regard and still ended up going down on strikes 34.6% of the time.
While Texas can still option Gallo, the team faces the proposition of filling in two primary power spots in its lineup. Mitch Moreland is set to vacate first base via free agency, with Grant suggesting he won’t likely be pursued by the Rangers. And the team is also bidding adieu to DH candidate Carlos Beltran, who was acquired in the aftermath of Prince Fielder’s injury-induced retirement. With other positions also in need of solutions, Texas probably can’t afford to spend big on two bats to step into these openings.
Grant suggests that Texas could look to bring in free agent first baseman Mike Napoli for a third go with the organization. The right swinger is capable of playing first and would complement the left-handed-hitting Gallo. Alternatively, the club could look elsewhere, possibly attempting to re-sign Beltran — a switch-hitter who has logged all of five career innings at first base. Either way, that kind of addition would leave the team reliant upon Gallo, unless he is paired with another righty bat in some kind of DH platoon.
There are several other possible routes to consider, it seems. With a rather robust group of slugging types available this winter, the Rangers could add two lesser-priced bats and try to cash Gallo in to address another need. As Grant writes, though, his difficulties in turning the corner may make it hard for the team to cash Gallo in for a starting pitcher good enough to punt on his upside. He might also be used in some kind of platoon role — with players like Ryan Rua and Jurickson Profar representing possible mates. And it’s certainly possible that Gallo could be sent back to Triple-A, but that would represent his third consecutive year at that level and would add to the payroll and roster pressures.
While the Rangers will get to watch Gallo play in Venezuelan winter ball action, and can to some extent delay final decisions until the spring, the organization largely knows the state of play and will need to chart a course for the winter market. What’s the best course of action?
JayJayXV
I want the Mets to get him as Wright’s future replacement.
beauvandertulip
There is absolutely no reason for the Rangers to keep Gallo. They need to trade him before he loses his value in the big leagues. A team like the Mets are looking for a 3rd base option with uncertainty around Wright, so in my opinion they are a good target for the Rangers
Eric D.
Gallo for Matt Harvey?
rct
Rangers would need to offer way more than just Gallo. Gallo’s slash at AAA, even in the hitter-friendly PCL, is only .224/.340/.501. Harvey’s been very successful in the majors when not injured and is still under control for 3 more seasons of arbitration.
Nick4747
Actually probably way less coming off of shoulder surgery a healthy Harvey definitely way more a hurt Harvey who wasn’t effective this season prior to shoulder surgery thats to much either way harvey doesn’t get traded
bigkempin
Harvey didn’t have shoulder surgery…..he had a rib removed to address thoracic outlet syndrome. He’ll be ready well before spring training. He wasn’t effective because the TOS caused tingling and numbness in his hands.
Nick4747
Thanks for the correction i was wrong but either way a team isn’t giving up a heralded prospect without seeing him healthy first harvey stays with the mets
madmanTX
That mentality is why the Rangers probably won’t trade Gallo. Why sell on him low?
AndThisGameBelongsToMySanDiegoPadres
They’re not selling low on him. They’re selling high on him before everyone realizes he can’t hit Major League pitching.
southi
In re to bigkempin: From my understanding that surgery was very similar to what Foltynewicz had done last season and he rebounded quite well this year. Also Chris Carpenter, Jamie Garcia and Josh Beckett also had similar surgeries done as well.
The prognosis should be good for a recovery from THAT specific issue
southi
In re to madmanTX: Because Gallo’s value has already peaked and started a decline in many evaluator’s minds. In other words it is only going to get worse from here in many opinions.
slider32
I can’t see any of the Mets pitchers who had surgery being traded. Lugo and Gesselmen are another story one of them might get you Gallo with his stock going down with all the Ks.
thekid9
For Harvey? AJ Preller is that you?!
A'sfaninUK
Gallo for Wheeler and Lugo might work.
lwayne
so he can join the long list of power guys who lit it up for other teams…………………A Gonzalez, Cruz, Davis, Napoli, Give him the same chance they have given Moreland ………
Brixton
VV for Gallo and ChiChi Gonzalez
dbacksrs
That’d be great for both teams.
gmflores27
Trade him for sale
gogoblue
You forgot to add Mazara, Profar, and Tate along with Gallo for Sale. If you were serious about Gallo for Sale one-on-one trade, then:
i1.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/430/877/…
GareBear
Dillon Tate was traded to the Yanks for Beltran
gogoblue
Oops. My bad. I wanted to add Rangers’ #1 pitching prospect in Sale package and looked at the START of 2016 prospect list. Substitute Mendez in place of Tate, then.
bravesfansince98
I know that’s a good deal for the white soxs
schellis 2
Considering that he hasn’t even hit at AAA and has massive strike out issues at that level I would move him now for whatever they could get. Right now he looks like a poor man’s version of Adam Dunn, and for all the hate Dunn received he at least raked in the minors.
Gallo may hit 20-30 homers but he’s going to strike out 200 times and hit in the low .200’s while doing it with a OB around .300.
There may be years that he looks good enough to get a All Star nod like Adam Duvall this year but more often then not he’ll be a one trick pony.
If the Rangers don’t move him this year they’re likely going to end up releasing him for nothing. Think Angels with Brandon Wood
natesp4
And to be fair to Duvall he had a great defensive year. That makes it much easier to swallow the .300 OBP
southi
Yes Wood was supposed to be a can’t miss prospect who ….
missed. Gallo looks headed down a similar path at this point.
petfoodfella
I’d like to see Atlanta make a trade for him from the stockpile of SP.
xalz
Gallo is a horrible fit for Atlanta. Are you going to platoon him at third base at the cost of pitching upside? Ruiz is on the cusp with Riley and, possibly, Maitan, behind him. And Adonis has shown he can fill in, albeit the Braves may need some help there in the short term. Braves need pitching to develop not a one-trick liability playing at third at the cost of trade depth better leveraged elsewhere. Unless one thinks he will shave another 10% off that K rate, he is a better fit for an AL team that can also utilize him at DH. Or the Mets…
southi
I’m going to disagree with you on that one. I’d even go so far that Gallo’s stock will never again rise to where it once was and it will not be as high again as it is currently. Gallo’s stock will continue to drop the more and more he is exposed to major league pitching.
I know that definitely not everyone will agree with me but besides his outlandish power and strong arm, he just isn’t even an average player in the other aspects of the game. That strongly limits what he can do and his value to a lot of the league. Right now he looks like he has small chance of being a viable major league player, (and only an extremely small chance of ever becoming a star) and a great big chance of being a flop. Personally I’m too risk adverse to even want him as part of my organization.
jd396
I’d trade him. He seems to have 80-grade power and 20-grade everything else.
bravesfansince98
He will be like Chris Davis prolly
Joshkind82
I’ll take a Gallo/Harvey swap of some sort.
SFgiantsUK
I think he will end up in New York, not sure which team.
Mets will have to trade a Matz or a Wheeler Type guy
Yankees will have to give up a top prospect or two.
JT19
Mets are not trading Matz for Gallo. The Yankees make some sense because I imagine they’d be salivating at the chance of him hitting 40 HRs with that short right field, but I don’t see them trading a top prospect for him either.
rugrat907
So many people in favor of trading him because they think he’s not going to amount to much, yet people are thinking the Rangers can get a Harvey or Matz in a deal? It’s not like Dave Stewart is still a GM anywhere…and I know I sure wouldn’t give up much for him.
Edited to add that I could see a Wheeler type in a deal…he’s nothing more than a lottery pick now, given his poor recovery from TJS. But I wouldn’t give up any more than that.
rct
My thoughts exactly. No way Sandy trades anything of value without getting at least equivalent value back. Gallo isn’t equivalent to Matz, and certainly isn’t equivalent to Harvey. Maybe Wheeler, but he’s a complete mystery right now.
schellis 2
Wheeler for Gallo feels right. Neither a sure thing, if you are going the rare prospect for prospect trade this is it.
BlueSkyLA
Sounds similar to the dilemma the Dodgers faced with Joc Pederson, the main difference being Pederson’s value defensively.
rugrat907
In the lower minors, Pederson showed some ability to control his K’s, so there was always hope that he’d adjust. Gallo hasn’t done that.
bravesfan
Braves could use him for sure. We definitely have the pitching in the farm system that is on the brink of being big time in the majors. Heck, we even have outfielders that we can spare… but maybe not a CF that we’d be willing to let go.
ffjsisk
No thanks. This guys numbers look like the tail end of Dan Uggla’s career. Gross.
southi
sorry bravesfan1 but I don’t imagine that many players with Gallo’s defensive liabilities and astronomical strikeout rates have exhibited much success at the major league level. The odds are stacked against him.
connorreed
Since when is Joey Gallo a defensive liability?
Sure, he’s no Gold Glover, and maybe he’s slightly above average on defense, but I wouldn’t consider him a liability, especially since he’s got one of the strongest arms in the minors and provides some position flexibility.
And on your other point, there have been more than a few players that have been below average hitters, struck out a ton, weren’t great on the bases or in the field, but provided value because of their power. To name a few, Chris Davis, Mark Trumbo, JD Martinez, Dan Uggla, Carlos Pena, Adam Dunn, Mark Reynolds, Troy Glaus, Ryan Howard, Pat Burrell, and Mike Napoli.
bravesfansince98
We got a third baseman
Quirinis
There’s is no cut him option on the poll…
Niekro
I think they hold on to him for two reasons, one like people said his value is down, and two, because they don’t want to miss out on Chris Davis 2.0, and have him turn into one of the leagues premier power hitters for someone else.
JeD242
Agree, was thinking the same, Crush Davis 2.0 , let’s not forget they also gave up on A-Gon too soon
ib6ub9
He is 22 he will get better with reps either in majors or in the minors
schellis 2
Players don’t suddenly develop a great eye at the plate and improve their hit tool tremendously. Gallo in the minors has had great power, but massive issues making contact with lots of strike outs.
Power is king, but I believe he is going to be a bust. Though to be fair I also thought that about Baez. So yes there is a chance that he makes good, but their is the more likely he’ll be a disappointment that continues to get chances because of his 40 homer potential.
rangerfan23
I can see rangers trading Gallo this offseason for a starting pitcher. Profar or Ryan rua can play first for us. Both are good young players that can help out Texas
RyanR
If they trade him luck will have it he will be great for another team in a few years….Maybe they should see how he does over the winter, maybe he finds some fire.
TheAdrianBeltre
How about let the guy get some everyday ABs and see? Anyone that really watched the Rangers this season knows that Banister never gave him a chance to play at all, let alone get into a groove by playing multiple days in a row… You know, because Prince and Moreland played every day(must have been all that raking they were doing, um), and then Beltran replaced Prince. It is pretty obvious that Texas was more worried about protecting his trade value than finding out if he could handle 1B and MLB pitching the second time around…
RyanR
This could be true. He needs a fair shot.
twinnb15
What if the rangers and the cardinals made a deal for joey Gallo? The cardinals need a 3B and have some young prospects. And the rangers are maybe looking into trading him.
JT19
The Cardinals don’t need a 3B. I think Peralta is set to start there, which isn’t an inspiring option, but I don’t see Gallo being worth prospects at this point (unless the prospects are high-risk, high-reward like Zach Wheeler or a prospect who hasn’t panned out as well/quickly as hoped).
notagain27
Same scenario happened a few years ago with the same team with a “can’t miss” prospect by the name of Matt Dominguez. Lot of power but too much swing and miss. Chris Davis has shown us some instances when he made adjustments to his swing during the season. I would see how he does in winter ball. If you don’t produce down there they send you home. He is still young and you should never rush a hitter’s development. He has options available but someone down in Texas has to make a call.
southi
The big difference between Dominguez and Gallo is that Dominguez had a major league quality glove at thirdbase while Gallo’s is definitely well below average there. Even with his good glove Dominguez hasn’t been able to stay at the major league level.
connorreed
I’m really confused about this talk of Gallo being such an awful fielder.
Sure, guys of his makeup (lots of power, high strikeouts, big body) usually do struggle in the field, but Gallo isn’t all that bad. His glove might be slightly below above, but not well below average, and when you factor in his elite arm strength, he’s pretty much an average defensive third baseman. Plus, he adds some position versatility.
And also, I’m not getting the comparison with Matt Dominguez. He did have a quality glove, but he was never a “can’t miss” prospect, just a pretty good one. And he had some power, but not as much as Gallo, who truly has top of the scale power. And he was even worse of a hitter in the minors than Joey.
comebacktrail28
If I’m the Rangers I might and I mean might trade him for Chris Sale
JT19
Rangers would need to throw in a whole lot more for Sale. And if Gallo is a sticking point for Sale, then they might as well not be interested.
Greenleaf1
How about Gallo for Junior Guerra straight up?
cecilcooper1
No. there is a reason why we ended up with Lewis Brinson instead of Gallo and I am really happy about it. The Crew has too many joey gallo types and they got rid of the aforementioned Khris Davis. Now they have carter as a power swing and miss guy. Let hernan Perez play third until a better option comes around. Besides why give up a controllable arm which is hard to find?
CarlosQuijada
This is going based on needs. Yankees get Joey Gallo & Rangers get Aaron Judge. Gallo can 3rd, 1st and DH and Judge can play outfield and DH.
A'sfaninUK
I can dig this, keep Headley at 3B until Gallo finally figures out a MLB strike zone. Judge is wildly overvalued though, Texas might have to add in a prospect.
slider32
Yanks have Headley signed and Andujar on the way, Gallo is a AAAA player right now.
connorreed
The Rangers wouldn’t do that straight up.
Both have similar profiles, but Gallo is still better. They both struggled in their debuts:
Gallo: .204 / .301 / .417, 53% K rate
Judge: .179 / .263 / .345, 50% K rate
But Gallo is over two years younger and has better tools. Judge was never ranked in the top 30 prospects, while Gallo was a unanimous top ten in 2015 and 2016. I know that doesn’t mean much, but clearly, scouts see something in Gallo that they don’t see in Judge.
Halo27
Hope this guy makes it. And doesn’t end up the next Dallas McPherson.
michaeljay
Not a Rangers fan but why trade the guy unless someone offers to overpay. Ye’s going to K a ton but hit 30-40 homers and drive in 90-100 runs.
You can trade him to the Rockies if you want for pitching. Would love to have him if the cost is reasonable.
JT19
Rockies already have a 3B (that is light years better) in Arenado. Also the last thing they probably need is another left handed bat.
Pihc123
Joey Gallo? Did you say Gallo? I meant Callo. Joey Callo
cashking
The real issue here is what do the Rangers intend to do with Jurickson Profar and Ryan Rua??? This past season the brain-dead trust here decided to go for broke with 39 year old Carlos Beltran and 30 year old head case Carlos Gomez. instead of developing their two youngsters hoping to take a short cut to the World Series. That approach was doomed from the start since the Rangers’ starting pitchers stink to the high heavens. Profar, if you’ll recall, was playing brilliantly until Choo came back from the DL and Bannister began playing JP every three days–and at different positions–which keeps a player from developing chemistry with his teammates, among other things…
Before then, Jurickson was getting accolades and atta-boys from everyone because his average was well above .300 and he was playing both sides of the ball with a high degree of proficiency. But once it became clear that he wasn’t going to be playing regularly anymore following the acquisitions of Beltran and Gomez it’s quite clear that he got down on himself and his average dropped almost 80 points as a consequence…
As for Ryan Rua, the feeling I get about him is that he has the tools to develop into a 20 homer, 80+ RBI type player who can hit somewhere between .280 and .300 But the Ranger brass–and Bannister in particular–doesn’t want to allow youngsters the time to develop and play through inevitable mistakes. His approach dooms a team to depending on free agency and keeps it from becoming powerful and dynamic for years at a time…
I could be wrong, but I doubt it, frankly…
End,
Clifford