The Yankees finalized their acquisition of Joey Gallo from the Texas Rangers, and New York manager Aaron Boone said the slugger will be with the team Friday.
Boone told reporters Thursday, just before the Yankees officially announced the deal, that he plans to play Gallo in left field, leaving Aaron Judge in right field. Gallo started 83 games in right for the Rangers.
“I think we’re a lot better today,” Boone said before the Yankees’ afternoon game against the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg, Fla.
New York is scheduled to open a three-game series in Miami against the Marlins on Friday.
Joey G. hits NYC.
Welcome aboard, @JoeyGallo24. pic.twitter.com/G6T5P35jQq
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 29, 2021
Gallo heads to the Yankees along with left-handed pitcher Joely Rodriguez and cash considerations in exchange for minor league right-hander Glenn Otto and infielders Ezequiel Duran, Trevor Hauver and Josh Smith.
“We’re excited to add an All-Star,” Boone said.
Gallo, 27, is a two-time All-Star who has 25 home runs and 55 RBIs this year while batting .223 and slugging .490. He also has drawn a major-league-leading 74 walks.
During June and early July, Gallo hit 11 homers in a stretch of 12 games. He later participated in the Home Run Derby during Major League Baseball’s All-Star break.
He adds a lethal bat to the Yankees’ lineup as they fight with the American League East-leading Boston Red Sox and the second-place Rays for playoff position.
In 568 games over seven seasons, all with Texas, Gallo has 145 home runs and 317 RBIs while batting .211.
–Field Level Media