The Minnesota Twins have had a tough week.
Late on Tuesday, the team watched their star shortstop Carlos Correa bolt for San Francisco after signing a 13-year, $350 million contract.
This came only hours after the Twins had signed catcher Christian Vazquez to a three-year, $30 million contract.
But today, the Twins found another bat to add to their lineup, signing veteran slugger Joey Gallo to a one-year, $11 million deal.
Gallo had a tough season in 2022.
Despite still hitting 19 home runs. the slugger hit for just a .160 average with the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Jeff Passan of ESPN was the first to report the news.
Joey Gallo will get $11 million in his deal with the Twins, sources tell ESPN. He's still just 29. With a solid season this year — remember, he put up 4.7 Wins Above Replacement in 2021 — he's still primed to do well next year. But no doubt: This is a make-or-break season.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 16, 2022
Gallo Goes To Twins
This could turn out to be a pretty good move for the Twins.
Gallo has been one of the most notable examples of players who have been hurt by the shift.
With that gone, Gallo has a chance for a bounce-back season.
He isn’t too far removed from a 38-homer season in 2021.
The 29-year-old has also always been known for his power.
Gallo will join a lineup that features some solid run producers in Byron Buxton, Luis Arraez, Jorge Polanco, and Vazquez.
The Twins led the American League Central for much of the 2022 season, but a late-season collapse took them out of contention and caused them to finish with a 78-84 record and drop all the way to third place in the division.
But with the elimination of the shift, Minnesota may catch lightning in a bottle with Gallo as they look to make improvements offensively.
NEXT: The Twins Officially Welcome Their New Catcher