Texas Rangers rumors: Joey Gallo has long been thought to be off-limits in trade talks, but according to Jeff Passan, "sources familiar with the talks" between the Rangers and the Tampa Bay Rays believe the Rangers are willing to deal their power-hitting AAA 1B/3B as part of deal to get pitching from Tampa.
This would be a pretty significant shift, both from last year, when Gallo and Nomar Mazara were in the "will not trade" category in discussions with the Philadelphia Phillies, and what we've been hearing elsewhere this month, with reports saying that the team didn't see anyone on the market worth giving up Gallo (or Jurickson Profar) for.
Parting with Gallo would create problems at the major league level as soon as 2017, as I think the current plan is for Gallo to take over at first base for free agent to be Mitch Moreland next year. Its possible that, should Gallo be dealt, the Rangers could look at Prince Fielder at first base, with Shin-Soo Choo at DH in 2017. Alternatively, the team could be considering leaving Profar at first base (where he has played some this year), though that seems like a less-than-ideal arrangement. Ryan Rua could also end up at first, should Gallo get dealt.
We talked yesterday about the ongoing discussions between the Rangers and Rays, with the Rangers apparently talking to Tampa about Drew Smyly, Jake Odorizzi and Matt Moore, but this is the first indication that we've had that the Rangers would be willing to part with Gallo as part of a deal. Texas clearly is looking to short up its rotation, and would prefer someone they could have beyond 2016...it is an open question, however, whether any of those three pitchers is worth parting with Gallo to acquire.