Aaron Boone says Joey Gallo will be with New York Yankees on Friday
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone on Thursday confirmed that the Yankees have acquired All-Star slugger Joey Gallo from the Texas Rangers.
The Yankees announced the trade shortly after Boone spoke with reporters. Boone said he spoke with Gallo on Thursday and "welcomed him to the team."
"I think we're a lot better today,'' Boone said before the Yankees played Tampa Bay.
Boone said that Gallo will be with the Yankees for Friday's series opener against the Marlins in Miami.
While he has played right field for Texas, Boone envisions Gallo playing a lot in left for the Yankees, who have Aaron Judge as their regular right fielder.
"We're excited to add an All-Star,'' Boone said.
The Rangers received right-hander Glenn Otto, second baseman Ezequiel Duran, shortstop Josh Smith and second baseman/outfielder Trevor Hauver from New York. Texas also sent pitcher Joely Rodríguez to New York.
New York's left-handed hitters have struggled this season, ranking last in the majors in average (.197), 28th in home runs (22) and OPS (.633) and 29th in hard-hit rate (33%).
A two-time All-Star, Gallo ranks sixth in the AL this season with 25 home runs, to go with 55 RBIs and a .223 average. He had struggled mightily at the plate since the All-Star break, with zero home runs and a .067 average in the 10 games following, before breaking out Tuesday with a three-run shot against the Diamondbacks.
Gallo, 27, is among just eight rostered major leaguers with multiple career 40-homer seasons (2017, 2018).
Gallo is owed $2.2 million from his $6.2 million salary. He is eligible for arbitration next winter and can become a free agent after the 2022 season.
The Yankees began the day 8½ games behind Boston in the AL East and trailing Tampa Bay, Oakland and Seattle in the wild-card race for two spots.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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