Texas Rangers rumors: 3 potential Joey Gallo trade partners

Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies have gotten off to a sluggish 22-20 start this season, but like Chicago, they are coming off back-to-back offseasons of major financial investment. They obviously signed Bryce Harper back in 2019, but the additions of Zack Wheeler, Didi Gregorius, Archie Bradley, and the re-signing of J.T. Realmuto paint the picture of a team desperately trying to contend moving forward.

Throw in the hiring of Dave Dombrowski that took place earlier this offseason, and you’re looking at a franchise that is also set to “buy” at this year’s trade deadline.

The Phillies don’t have an immediate opening for Gallo at one of their corner outfield positions, but they could run him in center field for the time being. With Gallo set to be under team control through 2022, he then could slide over as the team’s starting left fielder upon Andrew McCutchen’s expected departure this upcoming offseason.

It’s not the most seamless of fits, but it gives the Phillies another big-time bat in 2022.

The one sticking point with the Phillies is that their farm system is among the league’s worst. In a bidding war with Chicago or some other team, Dombrowski wouldn’t stand a chance. This deal likely only happens if the market for Gallo isn’t as intense as the Texas Rangers may have initially hoped it to be.