Texas Rangers: Joey Gallo trade rumors shouldn’t be more than fodder

A year ago, the Texas Rangers put Joey Gallo on the trade block. Fast forward to a year later and Joey Gallo still finds himself on the trade block.

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Yankees are shopping Gallo around to potential interested teams, with the Padres standing out as an obvious fit given their Rangers connection via GM A.J. Preller. But could the Rangers also be interested in a reunion this summer?

Texas Rangers mentioned in trade rumors around their former All-Star outfielder Joey Gallo

Gallo is having an awful season, to be frank, with a .166/.288/.629 triple slash and 10 home runs in 205 at-bats in 2022. He’s nowhere near the player he was with Texas, even though he’s never been a good contact hitter, but the token power and walks he had as a member of the Rangers have dried up with the Yankees in a big (bad) way.

Surprisingly, he’s worth 0.2 bWAR this season, but that’s probably all related to his defense, which is still above average in the outfield.

The 28-year-old was dealt by the Texas Rangers last season for four prospects, three of whom Rangers fans are quite familiar with: Glenn Otto, Josh H. Smith and Ezequiel Duran. The fourth, Trevor Hauver, is doing well for himself in the minor leagues. That trade with the Yankees last summer will go down as one the Texas’ best ever, and that only becomes more true if somehow New York decides to use its return policy to ship him back to Arlington.

Quite simply, though? The Rangers’ interest in Gallo should remain as interest. It makes no sense for Texas to acquire their former All-Star outfielder again. He’s on an expiring contract, going against the strategy of buying controllable players at the trade deadline, at best. He’s also a shell of himself, and his current numbers don’t represent a real upgrade on a team that does need outfield help. That says a lot.

There was always the possibility that Gallo could return to the Texas Rangers as a free agent after this season. He declined an $84 million extension last summer, and that could definitely come back to bite him as his value has steeply declined. I’d be open to a reunion in free agency. But unless the cost is free or cash considerations, there’s no point in taking Gallo back for two months.

It’s time to move on.