TODAY: The Cardinals weren’t able to find a taker for Gallegos before the trade deadline passed, so he’ll hit the waiver wire. Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes that the Cards will release Gallegos and eat his remaining salary if nobody makes a claim.
JULY 28: The Cardinals announced that right-hander Giovanny Gallegos has been designated for assignment. Right-hander Kyle Leahy was called up from Triple-A in the corresponding move, and the Cards now have an open space on their 40-man roster.
The DFA underscores a disaster of a season for Gallegos, who has a 6.53 ERA over 21 appearances and 20 2/3 innings. After emerging as a cornerstone of the St. Louis bullpen from 2019-22, some red flags appeared last season when Gallegos’ ERA shot up to 4.42 (in 55 innings) as his strikeout rate declined and batters suddenly started to make much more solid contact against his offerings.
Things got worse for Gallegos this season, as he has allowed six homers over his 20 2/3 frames and his strikeout rate (22.3%) and walk rate (10.6%) are both career worsts. The sudden loss of control is particularly troubling, as even amidst Gallegos’ struggles in 2023, he still sat in the 92nd percentile of all pitchers in terms of walk rate. Health could be an issue since Gallegos missed a month and a half due to a shoulder impingement, though he wasn’t pitching well either before or after his stint on the 15-day injured list.
Despite these significant struggles, Gallegos’ track record means that he’ll likely catch on with another team pretty quickly, if perhaps not via waiver claim. A team that puts in a claim would assume the remainder of Gallegos’ salary — roughly $1.84MM in 2024 salary, plus a $500K buyout of his $6.5MM club option for the 2025 campaign.
Unless a trade is worked out during the DFA period and before Tuesday’s deadline, clubs might prefer to wait until Gallegos clears waivers and is then likely released by the Cardinals. A new team would then owe Gallegos just the prorated portion of a MLB minimum salary, and St. Louis would be on the hook for the remaining money owed. Since Gallegos has more than five years of MLB service time, he has the right to refuse an outright assignment from the Cardinals if he does clear waivers.
Led by star closer Ryan Helsley, the Cardinals have gotten solid results in general from their bullpen this season, with Gallegos uncharacteristically being the relief corps’ weak link. St. Louis, like most contenders, was known to be exploring the market for some bullpen reinforcements heading into the deadline, and moving Gallegos (and freeing up a 40-man roster spot) would hint that some kind of plans are in mind for the Cards before July 30.
Not sure what happened to Gallegos but he’s been terrible all year he earned this.
My mind wants to say overuse but could be wrong. Reminds me of guys like Siegrist, Maness & other guys who were good for a while but flamed out and couldn’t get it back
In 2022, Gallegos went 25.8 seconds between pitches. In 2023, when we saw him begin to decline, the pitch clock was implemented. He may be a victim of being forced to suddenly work 6+ seconds quicker.
He was a prime example of why that pitch clock was introduced. Watching him waste time between pitches was brutal.
Yet it’s not very fair to him if the pitch clock has indeed ruined his career.
To be fair, he had been better since coming back from the IL. He wasn’t good in his most recent appearance, but he had a few scoreless outings before then.
Mr. Gallegos, Cubs are on line one.
Dumpster diving won’t save Cubs’ next season.
Incoming at Busch…
I’m pretty shocked, but def glad. Better late then never. Hopefully shedding dead wood is the theme of the day.
Gio was a true horse for several years, but he has been bad for while. Another extension Mo should never have given.
If Tampa can get SDs 3,8,12 for Adam, the Cardinals should seriously consider selling Ryan Helsley. Like, today.
I’ve been saying the same thing. He will never be more valuable than he is today. Plus the Cardinals are barely treading water. -50 run differential can’t be explained away.
I would have to know exactly what we are talking.
The Cardinals are still firmly in contention, so there’s no reason to sell their best reliever, who they need to make a run for the playoffs.
I don’t know if I would call 3 games over .500 and 2 games back in the wild card “firmly in contention” they aren’t beating anyone in a series even if they get lucky enough to sneak in.
RIP Giovanni longtime cardinal
We haven’t had a day this sad since Joe panik left the giants (wait this isn’t that sad it’s only baseball)
So the results are in!
Gallegos gave the Cards 4.4bWAR
Luke Voit gave the yanks 4.5 bWAR
So the yanks “won” the trade….
But wait!
Chase Shreve also was worth .2 bWAR!
Cardinals win! Cashman sucks!
JK, good deal for both sides.
The Yankees also got international slot money in the deal which they used to sign Jasson Dominguez who has accumulated .2 WAR. Theeeee Yankeeeees wiiin!!! Also kidding. Great deal for both teams.
As one of the slowest workers in MLB, he never adapted to the pitch clock.
Have to wonder if the pitcher hand inspections had something to do with his decline as well. The first 2 years he came over his slider was devastating but it certainly saw a decline since. Wonder how Julian Tavarez would fare in this environment
Pitch clock is what got him. He was one of the slowest pitchers in all the baseball.
Back to the Yanks
Randy, I am the liquor!
Yes, Mr. Lahey!
Lets hope this is not the only news we read about the Cardinals before the trade deadline?
They should trade Goldy Arenado Gorman an get whatever the best deal you can make now. Tired of them not producing and strike outs. The pitching is good enough the offense is not!
What are you talking about? The Cards are two games over .500 and going to win the World Series. The GAG trio will lead them there. You enjoyed the MVP caliber seasons of Goldy and Arenado. Now you must endure the no-trade decline years. Only three more years of Arenado.
Goldsmith was a steal
Walk off Goldy!
Wait do you get to talk trash about the guy and ALSO celebrate his successes?
Maybe a reunion with Shildt and working with Niebla could help change his fortunate a bit…
Cards should show Marmol the door, he continues make bad moves during games and continues to play Carlson , who in my opinion costs us too many games with his poor outfield play.
So, what we’re saying here is the Cardinals ‘let go of Gallegos‘?
Well done.
Go get him Red Sox, can’t be worse than Chased Anderson.
I’m still standing by my theory that the pitch clock has ruined Gallegos’s career. He was one of the slowest working pitchers in MLB before the pitch clock, and then his production fell off a cliff once it was instituted starting last year.
i agree that the pitch clock affected his career , I also blame the Pitch clock for the increase in pitchers arm problems this year. The players union should be pushing to change or eliminate the clock.
I think lowering the mound after Gibson dominated is the reason so many curves turned into arm wrecking sliders
One bad year see ya?
No, two bad years. He’s also an upcoming free agent getting paid over $6M this year..
Rays could use him
They can probably fix him
I can’t tell from the comments here:
Um, is Gallegos one of the slowest-working pitchers in baseball?
Dodgers?
Cashman can get his trade deadline guy now!
Go get ‘em tiger!
he is as good as the guy we got for Carlson
You mean trusty Dusty Blake was unable to show his super duper stats and explain he knows how it is on the mound (even though Busty musty Rusty never made the show as most pitching coach have) so I guess Gags will just sit back as we watch him become successful with the next team
Mikolas has been just about as bad, if not worse