Nationals Sign Joey Gallo To One-Year Deal
The Washington Nationals and Joey Gallo have agreed to a one-year, $5 million contract, Mark Zuckerman of MASN first reported Tuesday.
Gallo, 30, was a two-time All-Star for the Texas Rangers–where he spent his first six-and-a-half MLB seasons–and a two-time Gold Glover. Last season with the Minnesota Twins, he homered 21 times with 40 RBIs and a .741 OPS over 111 games. It was a great sign after his struggles in 2022, where he batted an underwhelming .160 AVG, with time split between the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers.
This signing presents an opportunity for Gallo to be impactful on a Nationals team that is not carrying high expectations this season, allowing him to build off his 2023 into a better 2024 hopefully. A productive season for Gallo will make for a good trade chip when the trade deadline arrives in early August.
Gallo can slide into left field and add some stability to the position that saw constant personnel changes. Also, Gallo, when healthy, will provide some good power for the lineup in return for striking out 37.9 percent of the time for his career. In addition to his impact in LF, Gallo’s versatility is a valuable asset. His capability to play all three outfield positions and first base should see him earn consistent playing time. Gallo’s bat can at least add some protection for Lane Thomas in the Washington lineup.
Overall, this is a low-risk signing for the Nationals, who are in the midst of a rebuilding phase. Bringing in a 30-year-old who is only two seasons removed from a 38-home-run campaign in 2021 has the potential to be a good move. Although Joey Gallo may not reach his heights, like with the Rangers, he can still provide power and a decent glove no matter where you play him. Washington may just be what Joey Gallo needs to get his career fully back on track.
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