Texas Rangers: You can thank Joey Gallo for David Dahl

Joey Gallo might be the reason David Dahl is now a member of the Texas Rangers.

Joey Gallo just got a little more expensive on the trade market, rest of MLB!

If the slugging outfielder with a Gold Glove doesn’t bring the Texas Rangers a massive haul in a potential trade with another club this coming season just on those merits alone, he at least offered us something else: the services of outfielder David Dahl.

That’s right, we apparently have Gallo to thank for playing an instrumental role in recruiting the former Colorado Rockie to Arlington this winter.

The Rangers signed Dahl to a one-year, $3 million contract during the Winter Meetings, hoping that the former first round selection will return to the form that made him an All-Star in 2019 after a down 2020.

Gallo, a 2019 All-Star himself, claimed he played a sizable role in convincing his former Team USA teammate to join him on the rebuilding Texas Rangers during an interview with 105.3 FM The Fan as part of the team’s Winter Caravan.

"“Not many times you get a 26-, 27-year-old who was an All-Star who you’re going to get at a pretty low price who’s going to come to a team, in terms of where he’s at, in a rebuild phase. I said, ‘This is a pretty good opportunity.’ I told [Dahl] there are outfield spots open. ‘You’re going to come here and play. You’re not going to worry about getting benched and looking over your shoulder.’”"

You’re right, Joey, this doesn’t happen very often. Especially not when it comes to rebuilding teams and being an attractive destination for free agents.

Though Dahl has been injury prone during the course of his big league career, he has also proven that, when healthy, he’s as potent as any hitter in baseball, which made the Rockies’ decision to non-tender Dahl this off-season all the more perplexing.

The 26-year-old outfielder, who will turn 27 during the season, is likely entering the prime of his career, which has already been a productive one to this point (career .828 OPS).

Should Dahl stay healthy, this could turn out to be quite the steal for the Texas Rangers, who were putrid with the wood in 2020 and could use any help possible to bolster a middling lineup.

The lefty-swinging tandem of Dahl and Gallo in the middle of Chris Woodward’s lineup is one with tantalizing potential.

And one which we now know was made possible by Joey Gallo’s newfound recruiting skills!