Yankees: 3 Joey Gallo trades team could pursue in offseason

Why? Why does it always come to this?

Why do the New York Yankees make blockbuster acquisitions that already have to be discussed as potential reversals two months into a one-and-a-half-year commitment?

Why does the New York media get the chance to write about Joey Gallo in the same tone of voice as Sonny freaking Gray after two months of data? Why does acquiring Kiké Hernández and Hunter Renfroe work out in Boston, but adding a 40-homer, Gold Glove All-Star lefty to the Yankees’ lineup result in two months of a feckless .160 average?

The acquisition of Gallo was meant to balance the Bombers’ lineup, and it did, adding high-profile swings-and-misses from both sides of the plate.

Bottom line … I like Gallo. I like a player with some of the best power in baseball and the glove to match. I like that he’s a fan. I like it all, in theory.

But there’s definitely a chance — set the odds right in the middle — that the Yankees decide they’ve already seen enough, and don’t want to go through another year of waiting for Gallo to get comfortable.

Often, the “perfect player” isn’t on the market. A contact-hitting, 25-homer-rocketing, fielding extraordinaire is a tough thing to find. You typically can’t trade for Dansby Swanson, unless Dave Stewart is feeling frisky. It’s tough to demand the Yankees cast a magic spell and add a perfect diversifier to their lineup.

Gallo also has nowhere to go but up next year. There’s no reason to think he “can’t handle” New York. There was also a hot streak buried in his struggles in mid-September; unfortunately, the buzz of that heater got harshed by a stiff neck, leading to another late-season tailspin.

Things could not have gone much worse this season, but even with a little bit of rabble-rousing already out there, it’d be stunning to see the Yanks reverse course and pull the plug after surrendering four prospects for the lefty’s services in late July.

If the team sees things differently, though, there will surely be plenty of suitors lined up for the experiment.

Yankees could pursue these 3 Joey Gallo trades this offseason.

3. Padres-Joey Gallo Trade

The Padres were supposedly second in line for Joey Gallo this trade deadline, and at one point seemed like the favorites because of the sheer variety of assets they could offer.

Well … now’s your chance! Step right up!

Gallo has certainly lost trade value over the past several weeks, but mostly due to the shorter length of control the acquiring team will have over his contract. Despite a down month-and-a-half in New York, he’s still the same player he always was. He will hit you 40 bombs. He will shine in the field. A fringe playoff team should be all over this.

The Yanks were able to talk Texas into four mid-level prospects in exchange, all of whom have a chance to make an MLB impact. If Brian Cashman were to flip Gallo out west, he’d probably look for one high-ceiling option and two lottery tickets. Maybe A-Ball lefty Robert Gasser (SD’s No. 10 prospect, per MLB Pipeline), plus No. 19 prospect catcher Brandon Valenzuela and a rookie-league relative unknown (you know, like Luis Gil in the Jake Cave trade).

However it gets done, expect AJ Preller and the Padres to be the first on the phone in this scenario.

1. Joey Gallo-Matt Olson Mega-Deal With A’s

You were all thinking it!

We’ve heard over, and over, and over, and over again about how such-and-such star really is the perfect fit for the Yankees, but … Matt Olson really is. The A’s slugger played Gold Glove defense at first base this season yet again, rocketing 39 bombs, knocking in 111 runs, striking out just 113 times, batting .271, and doing it all from the left side. His OPS+ of 153, after a 139 mark in his last full season in 2019, is not to be trifled with.

He’s also under contract through just 2023 and his price is beginning to escalate. Oakland will no doubt want to trade Olson next offseason if not this one … so why not force them to jump the gun?

Gallo can help fill the center field void left by the departing Starling Marte at the Coliseum, and he’s a familiar long-time division rival who might get an extra jolt from playing the Rangers (and a common set of rivals) again 19 times per year. He’s also only a one-year rental, so Oakland won’t be committing to escalating costs.

What if we attached … Luke Voit to this deal?! His value’s never been lower (thanks, Yanks), but he approximates Olson’s power and won’t be a free agent until the 2024 season ends. If the Bombers are intent on trading Voit anyway (they are), they might as well do it here instead of surrendering more prospect depth.

Voit and Gallo for Olson and No. 7 prospect slugging infielder Zac Gelof. Who says no? It’s too perfect.

It will never even be broached. We’re just going to sit on Gallo and watch Boston pull off “Bobby Dalbec-for-Olson,” aren’t we?

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