Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES, CA — Wow. This one is a head-scratcher. But in a way it is right out of the Andrew Friedman playbook. In the fist big move of trade deadline day, the Dodgers acquired slugger Joey Gallo from the New York Yankees in exchange for pitcher Clayton Beeter, the #15 prospect on the Dodgers’ farm.
To say the former All-Star Gallo has struggled in pinstripes is an understatement. He’s always been a big swing-and-miss guy, but his slugging percentage always sort of made up for it. But in the Bronx, he essentially got booed out of town. This year he’s hitting .159 with only 12 home runs and an OPS hovering around .650. Yuck.
However, the Vegas native Gallo has been much better than this in the past. In his best year, 2019, he hit 22 home runs and had a .986 OPS in the first half before being injured and losing the rest of the year. In 2021, he was traded to the Yanks at the deadline, and his production has been pretty poor ever since.
Let’s be honest, though. The Bronx can do a number on guys’ heads. And with the Dodgers’ history of “fixing” hitters (think Justin Turner), there is the potential that he can get himself back to some decent numbers that will help the team. Plus, with Trayce Thompson playing so well as right-handed bat, it’s likely that Gallo will only be used with a nice match-up that favors his skill set.
Can’t say I totally understand the move, but I get it. This is a piece of what Andrew Friedman does. He loves these “he used to be great” moves. Think Cole Hamels last year. He grabs these players by the handful. Some pan out, most don’t. But you play the averages.
So. Joey Gallo, the poster child for three-true-outcomes brand of baseball, is now a Dodger. We shall see…
UPDATE: In a corresponding move, it looks like Jake Lamb is headed for the Mariners, opening up a spot for Gallo to hit from the left side.
