The Texas Rangers have struck their first trade going into the Trade Deadline which ends on July 30th at 4 pm eastern time. The Rangers Organization has traded one of their most productive hitters of the last four years. The Rangers traded OF Joey Gallo and LHP Joely Rodriguez to the Yankees for prospects: 2B Ezequiel Duran, 2B Trevor Hauver, RHP Glenn Otto, and SS Josh Smith. Gallo has been in trade rumors the last couple of years as the Rangers have been in rebuild mode the last couple of years as they have been departing from their best players to bring in prospects of the future. Gallo and Rodriguez will join former Ranger, Rougned Odor.
The Rangers are now in full rebuild mode as they have departed from one of their best hitters on the team of this season. Gallo’s stat line is .223 batting avg, 25 home runs, 55 RBIs, 6 stolen bases, and .869 OPS. He was an all-star and home run derby participant for this year’s midsummer classic in Colorado. Joely Rodriguez who will be joining Gallo in the Bronx had a great season in Arlington last year, has struggled this season starting on the 10-day disabled list. Rodriguez’s stat line for this season is 31 appearances, 1-3 record, 5.93 ERA, 27.1 IP, 30 strikeouts, and 1.61 WHIP. He was a great acquisition by the Rangers when they signed him from Japan, he dominated in his first season with the organization. This season he just has been halted by injury and the pitchers are not getting much run support from the offense.
The prospects the Rangers are getting in this trade are #14 ranked in Yankees organization Josh Smith, #15 ranked Ezequiel Duran, #23 Trevor Hauver, and #28 Glenn Otto. They are getting some good talent in return who could help the team in the future. They are stockpiling their farm system for years to come as most of their transactions since been in rebuilding mode have been departing with some of their best players to get prospects for their farm system in return.
Gallo and Rodriguez are going to a Yankees team that has struggled here lately but are over .500 and are 2.5 games back from wild-card contention. This trade will help boost the offense and add to a lineup of power hitters with Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton on the team.