Boone: Yankees 'a lot better' with Gallo
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — New York manager Aaron Boone on Thursday confirmed that the Yankees have acquired All-Star slugger Joey Gallo from the Texas Rangers.
Gallo gives the heavily right-handed Yankees a much-needed powerful lefty bat. With switch-hitting center fielder Aaron Hicks hurt, second baseman Rougned Odor and outfielder Brett Gardner have been the only left-handed hitters to see substantial playing time.
“I think we’re a lot better today,” Boone said before the Yankees played Tampa Bay.
The 27-year-old Gallo is hitting .223 with 25 homers, 55 RBIs and a major league-leading 74 walks. While he has played right field for Texas, Boone envisions Bruce 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.
Gallo is owed $2.2 million from his $6.2 million salary. He is eligible for arbitration next winter and can became a free agent after the 2022 season.
The two-time All-Star is a career .211 hitter in seven seasons, but launches a lot of longballs. He hit 41 home runs in 2017 and 40 in 2018.
The Yankees began the day 8 1/2 games behind Boston in the AL East and trailing Tampa Bay, Oakland and Seattle in the wild-card race for two spots.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports