Joey Gallo landing spots: 3 teams likely to target 2x All-Star, 2x Gold Glove winner after Nationals decline $8,000,000 mutual option
The Washington Nationals declined their half of the $8 million mutual option with Joey Gallo. The outfielder never really clicked in the nation's capital, and the two-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove-winner will ultimately be moving on to another team.
Mark Zuckerman reported that Gallo will receive a $2.5 million buyout. That doubles his initial $2.5 million salary. He also got $200,000 in performance bonuses, so he ultimately earned $5.2 million for one season with the Nats.
There may be a few teams interested in the veteran outfielder who formerly starred with the Texas Rangers and then the New York Yankees. Here are three possible teams which might take a flyer on the slugger.
3 teams who could look into Joey Gallo
3) New York Yankees
Given how the last tenure in the Bronx went, it's not that likely that Joey Gallo will end up in pinstripes again. However, there's a bit of a fit. His lefty swing does make sense in New York, and the team will need corner outfield depth. Currently under contract in the outfield is just Aaron Judge. Jasson Dominguez may or may not make the Opening Day roster, so Gallo could be a depth piece.
2) San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres currently have the worst left field depth chart in baseball, per Fangraphs. This is because Jurickson Profar is a free agent now, and the depth is just nonexistent. For a World Series contender, that cannot stay the same, so expect them to target players. Gallo would likely be a depth addition, but that's something they very much need going into 2025.
1) Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are not likely to bounce back from the worst season in MLB history, so they should be sellers once again. That makes Gallo a low-risk, high-reward player. On a one-year deal, he could play well enough to warrant a trade next summer. If he doesn't, the White Sox won't really lost anything since it could be a cheap, short-term investment. This makes the most sense for both parties.