NL West News: Padres Expected to Heavily Pursue Slugger Joey Gallo
The NL West is going to be one of the most heated divisions in all of baseball. The Dodgers and Giants are right there at the top with the Padres just behind them. All 3 teams could end up in the postseason, but only 1 will be able to take the division.
Entering Monday’s games, the Padres are chasing the first-place Giants by 5 games. They have the team to take the NL West but they’re still looking to add at the deadline. Their offense is in the top 10 in baseball but they’re still a long way from the production of the Dodgers.
One guy that they could potentially look at is the Rangers’ Joey Gallo. Gallo is playing in his second-to-last year before free agency and there are no indications that he would sign a midseason extension. So could Gallo make his way out to the NL West?
NL West Related: Joc Pays Tribute to Clayton Kershaw With Number
At least one executive thinks that the Padres will empty their proverbial wallets to land the slugger. Speaking with The Athletic this week, that executive said that AJ Preller could be all in on the idea of bringing him out to the NL West.
And if they did, that would be bad for the Dodgers and Giants. Gallo is having one of the best years of his career, putting up a .910 OPS and hitting 24 homeruns in 87 games. If he does make it out to the NL West, Gallo is going to love playing with the short porch in right field down at Petco Park.
Dodgers News: Dave Roberts Admits the Team Must Get Better in Extra Inning Situations