Chicago White Sox: 3 incredible trade packages for Joey Gallo
The Chicago White Sox have been looking for an outfielder for a few weeks now. We still don’t know how long it is going to take for them to act on it or if they will act on it at all. They might wait to see what happens with Luis Robert and Eloy Jimenez throughout the summer but they might need to act quickly if they are going to acquire someone really good.
According to a report by Jon Heyman of MLB Network, Joey Gallo of the Texas Rangers is available. The White Sox and Rangers have already made one big deal over the last year when the Sox sent Dane Dunning south in exchange for Lance Lynn. Now, they could look to be trade partners again.
It would be wise for the Chicago White Sox to acquire Joey Gallo if he is available.
If he is actually available over the summer, the White Sox should consider adding him. He is currently slashing .223/.357/.396 with an OPS of .753. He has seven home runs, 21 RBIs, and 21 runs scored playing on a below-average Rangers team. That slash line and OPS is very okay but the power numbers are there. He is also an elite defensive outfielder so he would be valuable.
You also have to wonder if going to an elite team like the White Sox makes him better. He seems like the type of hitter that would thrive with lots of talent around him. There certainly would be extra protection in a lineup like this so there is a chance things get even more productive for him on a squad like this. These are three trade packages that might get a deal done:
The Texas Rangers might be into two studs that have a high ceiling but a low floor.
The Chicago White Sox could really use Joey Gallo right now. He would improve their outfield in the short term and could even help them over the next year or so depending on how things shake out. That is why giving up Jonathan Stiever and Jake Burger for him would be a good idea. They are both really good prospects but there is a good reason to believe that neither has a long-term future with the White Sox.
For Jonathan Stiever, it is hard to see him ever cracking the White Sox rotation long term. There are so many good arms that aren’t even in the rotation right now. There are some savvy veterans but we all expect Lucas Giolito, Dylan Cease, Michael Kopech, Garrett Crochet, and Jared Kelley to be in the mix for a while. Jonathan Stiever is the odd man out on a list like that. However, the Texas Rangers need as many young arms to try and develop as possible.
The same can be said about Jake Burger. He is naturally a third baseman which is going to be Yoan Moncada’s job for a long time. The White Sox should call up Burger to see what they have in him soon but that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t be included in a trade like this.
The Chicago White Sox might need to give up a good player to land Joey Gallo.
Joey Gallo is a great player. He has a big-time power bat and plays big-time defense in the outfield. If he is truly available, the White Sox absolutely need to consider him as an option. Giving up players like Gavin Sheets and Jimmy Lambert is never easy but sometimes that is the name of the game when you are a contender. Drafting, signing, and developing is key to sustained success once you are elite at the MLB level.
Gavin Sheets might be the hottest prospect in the White Sox organization right now. He is dominating in the short sample size that is the 2021 Charlotte Knights season. He is a candidate to be the team’s next call-up from the minors. If they decide to cut bait with Jake Lamb or have an injury, Sheets should be the next man up based on the numbers so far.
Jimmy Lambert is another right-handed pitcher that the White Sox might not have room for. There is no guarantee that he will become a contributor one day but he could. The Rangers are in a rebuild right now so taking a bunch of players like that would be wise. We have seen the White Sox go through that “taking a chance” sage and hit on guys like Yermin Mercedes and Danny Mendick. The Rangers could do damage if they also have that mindset.
The Chicago White Sox making a big trade for Joey Gallo could lead to a deep postseason run.
Micker Adolfo was always seen as a prospect that could crack the White Sox MLB lineup but his chances with the White Sox seem to be diminishing. That doesn’t mean that his chances of being an MLB player at all are diminished. The White Sox just have, when healthy, Eloy Jimenez, Luis Robert, and Yoelqui Cespedes ready to own the outfield for a very long time. Adolfo’s place is probably better off with another team if he proves to be MLB-ready at some point.
Tyler Johnson is a right-handed pitcher that is currently ranked as the White Sox number 19 prospect. It doesn’t appear likely that he will make his way to the White Sox anytime soon so sending him with a top outfield prospect is a good idea of Joey Gallo is coming back in return. If a trade like this was made, there would be no shame if either guy became good in the MLB because that just isn’t going to happen with the White Sox as currently constructed.
The rumor that teams see him as an option is confirmed by Heyman on Monday but there is nothing suggesting that the White Sox are one of those teams. The only thing is that they make as much sense as any team that is going to be in the mix. If the trade to acquire him looked anything like this, they need to do it right away.