Texas Rangers Rumors: Padres “might unload” for Joey Gallo?

Joey Gallo is still the man of the hour for multiple teams looking to trade with the Texas Rangers this summer.

It’s by no means a sure thing that Gallo is shipped elsewhere by the July 30 deadline, as the asking price for the 2021 All-Star is reportedly “daunting”. If he does leave Arlington, though, look for him to be in a San Diego Padres or New York Yankees uniform. Those clubs have far and away been the most attached to Gallo recently.

Preferably, we’d like to keep Gallo on the Texas Rangers. But trade rumors exist, so it’s better to acknowledge them rather than live in ignorance.

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (subscription required), Gallo and Gibson will both be coveted around the league at this year’s trade deadline, with the Padres centering their pursuits around the right fielder.

Are the Padres willing to “unload” to acquire Joey Gallo from the Texas Rangers in a trade?

With former Texas Rangers executive A.J Preller running the show in San Diego, it makes all the sense in the world that they’d be interested in Gallo. They also have the prospect depth to make an enticing offer to Jon Daniels and Chris Young.

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How do names like Robert Hassell or CJ Abrams sound?

Table the discussions about Luis Campusano or MacKenzie Gore, but the Rangers should be able to extract quality prospects out of the Padres’ system in any potential Gallo deal.

One quote from Rosenthal is particularly interesting in his evaluation of San Diego’s interest in the power-hitting Gold Glover:

"“I think Gallo is the one guy A.J. might unload for,” said one official who has been in touch with the Padres."

Unload is indeed the word, A.J. The price to acquire the 26-year-old Gallo will be steep, especially in a bounce-back season that has seen his OPS sit at .910 along with 24 homers in 285 at-bats. Oh, and that extra year of club control.

When it’s all said and done, Joey Gallo will likely still be with the Texas Rangers after the July 30 deadline. It seems far-fetched that a team would actually meet this high asking price, even if they really like the player.

Rumors will be rumors, though, and the possibilities are fun to analyze.