Can Joey Gallo Rebound from Rock-Bottom in Minnesota?

[DJL44]

He might bounce back and give you an adequate season. They already had 5 other lefthanded hitting outfielders you could say the same thing about. Next they'll sign an injured starting pitcher and another second baseman for the roster.

[sweetmusicviola16]

2 minutes ago, sweetmusicviola16 said:

In that type of scenerio. In the .160's. Sorry that doesn't cut it.

And if the FO doesn't know this, or is OK with this, then we have even greater problems yet.

[jmlease1]

I really don't know if Gallo can rebuild his shattered confidence and actually be a productive player at the plate again. I don't know if struggles at the plate this season will follow him into the field again (as they apparently did in NY).

I'm not all that optimistic, but he has hit before and it is possible.

Probably the best thing I can find about Gallo coming here is that he's ruined pitchers in the AL Central for his career. His OPS is great against the entire division. Of course, the unbalanced schedule is going away, so that's a bit less appealing...

[SanoMustGo]

10 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

Why? What are his career numbers when down 5-3 with two runners on in the ninth?

you are kidding, right?  I've listed his high leverage numbers many times, and they are bad.

 

[chpettit19]

1 minute ago, sweetmusicviola16 said:

In that type of scenerio. In the .160's. Sorry that doesn't cut it.

Do you have a list of current Twins players and current players available to the Twins who's numbers in that situation you know are better? What are Kepler's numbers in those situations? I honestly don't know. But he's likely the guy Gallo is replacing so I'd think he'd be most relevant. I don't want Kepler up in those spots either cuz he simply isn't a very good hitter. Actually, there's very few hitters on the Twins I'd want up in those spots because most of them just aren't very good hitters. That's why I don't love this deal, but also don't hate it. You have the numbers of the Astros players that just won a World Series? Is their entire lineup significantly better than Gallo in those situations, or do they have players who also struggle there but are good at other things?

I'm not going to get into a big back and forth here. I don't love this deal. I'm willing to wait and see what other moves are made before I condemn the FO for this move because Joey Gallo has had more major league success than all but a few players currently on the Twins 40-man. I don't like the 3 true outcome players. I don't like the FO right now because they sat around waiting for Correa when they were never going to offer him a realistic deal and missed on numerous other players they could've afforded. But being upset with them in general isn't enough for me to look at this deal in a vacuum and not as part of the offseason as a whole. They've got a lot of work to do to improve this team, and I doubt they'll be able to do enough. But I'll at least wait and see what else they do before going crazy over this 1 deal.

[chpettit19]

7 minutes ago, SanoMustGo said:

you are kidding, right?  I've listed his high leverage numbers many times, and they are bad.

 

I was kidding, yes. I was being sarcastic by calling out the specificity of being down 5-3 in the ninth, etc.

Look, I know you don't like Gallo. I get it. You hate this move unless he hits .230 with 35 homers. We'll agree to disagree on this deal at this time and just move forward.

[Florida Flash]

Did it really take $11M to sign this guy?? What other teams were standing in line offering this kind of money,. Yet they didnt want to pay Gio $10 M, which I also thought was high, but I think Gio is a much better player than Gallo at this point in time. Nevertheless, I will be pulling for Gallo, but think that money could have been better spent/

[Riverbrian]

44 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

That's a whole different conversation that this post isn't about, and we don't need another post that turns into just ranting about the FO so let's just keep it to Gallo and the topic of the original article, please.

Isnt it odd when you find yourself in the position of having to defend something you dont believe. just to try and restore balance, reason, normalcy. ?

[mikelink45]

I am so old school that I remember the Mendoza line and it was not an honor. Please do not drop the OPS line on us. He stinks.  

[Mike Sixel]

Sure. He could be great. For one year. Then what? Because all their young OF are now in the minors....

[Mike Sixel]

One elite player and two rookies, or three bad to risky players. Which is more likely to be helpful year after year?

[HerbieFan]

Hope springs eternal I guess.  But when is the last time the current regime...FO, manager, coaching staff, etc., has helped someone improve?  Especially a hitter?

Honestly, this move makes about as little sense as any I can remember.  The $11 million just makes it ridiculous.

[Bigfork Twins Guy]

It seems like a no win.  If he does bad, then we wasted 11MM and took at bats from the prospects.  If he has a decent season, then we may try to resign him and Boras may once again use us to increase the bidding.  In that scenario, it could be a Correa situation all over again.  If he has a great season, we will have little to no chance to sign him next year.

[MMMordabito]

3 hours ago, LewFordLives said:

Ignore the $11 million (which is an absurd amount).......what hole does he fill on this team?   This is the most bizarre nonsensical signing I can remember.

Automatic K Slot in the lineup that was vacated by Sano.

[USAFChief]

1 hour ago, Riverbrian said:

Isnt it odd when you find yourself in the position of having to defend something you dont believe. just to try and restore balance, reason, normalcy. ?

If you're defending something you don't believe you're either in debate class in high school, or arguing just for the sake of it 

[Riverbrian]

1 minute ago, USAFChief said:

If you're defending something you don't believe you're either in debate class in high school, or arguing just for the sake of it 

[William K Johnson]

I'm confused.    Another left-handed outfielder.

[The_Phantom]

It’s not just old schoolers rolling their eyes, I think people are finally realizing things like OPS+ make the individual look great but not necessarily the team. Astros have had the fewest strikeouts in the league pretty much every year since 2016 and have dominated the league. Any guesses who had the fewest Ks in 2015? Word champion Royals, that’s who. 

[Fire Dan Gladden]

I imagine this will get torn apart, but oh well...

I really like this move.  I think the Twins maybe overpaid a bit, but he should bring value to this team, on both offense and defense.  I have mentioned this numerous times that this guy would be the ones the Twins should take a flier on.  He is another guy the change in shift rules should really help.  He can also play CF and a little 1B.

An outfield of Gallo, Buxton, and Kepler would be the best defensive outfield in baseball.  That is nothing to sneeze at.  (Still waiting for an indication Kepler will be traded).  He is not the second coming, but he does raise the floor.  You know what you are getting here.

[Brandon]

JD Martinez signed with the Dodgers for 10 million.  He would do more for our offense I think.  Gallo will have 30-40 useful hits and that’s about it on offense.  We could use more professional hitters on this team.

[Riverbrian]

9 minutes ago, Fire Dan Gladden said:

I imagine this will get torn apart, but oh well...

I really like this move.  I think the Twins maybe overpaid a bit, but he should bring value to this team, on both offense and defense.  I have mentioned this numerous times that this guy would be the ones the Twins should take a flier on.  He is another guy the change in shift rules should really help.  He can also play CF and a little 1B.

An outfield of Gallo, Buxton, and Kepler would be the best defensive outfield in baseball.  That is nothing to sneeze at.  (Still waiting for an indication Kepler will be traded).  He is not the second coming, but he does raise the floor.  You know what you are getting here.

I'm not sure I agree but I like the minority viewpoint pulling up a chair to the table. 

Put your helmet on. The Rocks should start coming soon. 

[Deadfan]

LOLing at people screaming that 11 mil is a lot of money in 2023 for an MLB contract. Some of you are very out of touch with inflation and how it extends to not just what you pay in the grocery store.

[Mike Sixel]

21 minutes ago, Fire Dan Gladden said:

I imagine this will get torn apart, but oh well...

I really like this move.  I think the Twins maybe overpaid a bit, but he should bring value to this team, on both offense and defense.  I have mentioned this numerous times that this guy would be the ones the Twins should take a flier on.  He is another guy the change in shift rules should really help.  He can also play CF and a little 1B.

An outfield of Gallo, Buxton, and Kepler would be the best defensive outfield in baseball.  That is nothing to sneeze at.  (Still waiting for an indication Kepler will be traded).  He is not the second coming, but he does raise the floor.  You know what you are getting here.

He hasn't played center in over two years. 

[USAFChief]

13 minutes ago, Brandon said:

JD Martinez signed with the Dodgers for 10 million.  He would do more for our offense I think.  Gallo will have 30-40 useful hits and that’s about it on offense.  We could use more professional hitters on this team.

Martinez was a much better lineup add, IMO. 

[Fire Dan Gladden]

9 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

He hasn't played center in over two years. 

But he has played it.  Not saying he will, but he very well could.

Please remind me: how many innings did Arraez have at 1B prior to the season?

[chpettit19]

2 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

Martinez was a much better lineup add, IMO. 

Martinez had a 117 OPS+ and 119 wRC+ last year. You were quite clear that that isn't good enough for Gallo to be considered good while he was in Texas also winning gold gloves. Is it just the right handedness that makes JD the better add despite you not feeling those batting numbers are good and him being a DH only at this point in his career?

Yes, I'm just being sarcastic. Neither guy would've been a top choice for me. But if we're going to say Gallo has never had sustained success in the majors that would lead to any hope at all of him being serviceable (and there's literally hundreds of comments over the last 24 hours suggesting exactly that) we shouldn't be sad when we don't sign a guy who put up the same types of numbers. At this point it's simply "we don't like low BA, high power batters and that's that." Which is fine. But let's at least admit that the baseball industry is more than ok with low BA, high power batters, and that we simply don't like the modern game.

[Mike Sixel]

11 minutes ago, Fire Dan Gladden said:

But he has played it.  Not saying he will, but he very well could.

Please remind me: how many innings did Arraez have at 1B prior to the season?

You're comparing a second year player transitioning to the least difficult position, to a long time veteran playing center?

[tarheeltwinsfan]

5 hours ago, Greglw3 said:

The hole in RF where the incumbent has never done any of the following, all of which Gallo has:

Hit 38 Home runs

Hit 40 Home Runs twice

Won 2 gold gloves

Named to the all-star team 2 times

Stolen 20 consecutive bases, as Gallo has as of now.

Had 111 walks in one season (2021).

That hole.

I still think it is a poor signing by the FO. Those SO's are rally killers.

[Fire Dan Gladden]

56 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

You're comparing a second year player transitioning to the least difficult position, to a long time veteran playing center?

By long time veteran you mean an elite defensive OF who has solid experience playing all 3 OF positions?  Umm... sure.

Before you respond:  He is an elite defensive OF.  He should play more CF then he already has, but he has spent a lot of time on the corners as well.  He also has 90+ games at 1B and 3B.  The guy is a defensive stud.  Now you can argue semantics, but there is a definite possibility that he is Buxton's insurance policy.  Doesn't matter if you agree, it is a possibility.

His other positional flexibility fits right into what the Twins look for as well.     

[AceWrigley]

4 hours ago, DJL44 said:

He might bounce back and give you an adequate season. They already had 5 other lefthanded hitting outfielders you could say the same thing about. Next they'll sign an injured starting pitcher and another second baseman for the roster.

A second baseman with dubious fielding ability no doubt.