The 2021 MLB trade deadline is sneaking up on us, and it could be one of the wildest deadlines in recent memory.
With so much talent potentially on the move, the landscape of the season could shift depending on the deals that get done.
Today, we’re going to evaluate three American League All-Stars who could be on the move.
Let’s get started.
3. Joey Gallo
Given their current position, the Texas Rangers are presumably going to trade Joey Gallo at the deadline.
It will be the end of an era if it happens, as Gallo has spent his entire seven-year MLB career with the Rangers so far.
The Rangers drafted and developed Gallo themselves, and he has evolved into a great MLB player.
His All-Star selection in 2021 was the second of his career, and he earned every bit of both of them.
In the first half this season, Gallo batted just .239, but he reached base at an outstanding .402 clip and slugged .522.
That’s good for an OPS of .923 and an OPS+ of 153.
He also left the yard 24 times in the first half and also drew a league-best 72 walks.
His combination of power and his ability to reach base are two keys in making him a great offensive player.
He has turned into a plus defender over the years, too, even winning a Gold Glove Award in 2020.
Gallo is under contract through the 2022 season and will likely warrant a really nice return for that reason.
2. Nelson Cruz
Age is just a number to Nelson Cruz.
At 41 years old, he continues to mash at the plate.
He slashed .304/.381/.549 in the first half this season en route to his seventh All-Star selection.
The man is unstoppable.
He is a career .279 hitter with an OPS of .878 and a lifetime average of 39 home runs per 162 games.
He is set to hit free agency after the 2021 season, and the Minnesota Twins (who are 39-50) aren’t going to be able to put his production to good use since they are not playoff-bound this year.
That’s why Cruz will likely be on the move, and he will surely be one of the most coveted bats on the trade market this season.
Per @JonHeyman on MLB Network, the following All-Stars are “as good as gone”: #Twins Nelson Cruz, #Pirates Adam Frazier, and #DBacks Eduardo Escobar
— MLB Trade Deadline (@MLBDeadlineNews) July 8, 2021
One thing to keep in mind is that Cruz is really only able to serve as a designated hitter at this point in his career, so that limits some of his potential landing spots.
Regardless, the Twins will definitely find him a home with a contending team for the rest of the 2021 campaign.
1. Kyle Gibson
Not only was Kyle Gibson named an All-Star in 2021, but he also had a compelling case to be the starting pitcher for the AL in the game.
The honor went to Los Angeles Angels phenom Shohei Ohtani instead, but Gibson didn’t seem to mind too much.
He sounds like a massive fan of Ohtani.
🤝 Game Respect Game 🤝
Even @Rangers pitcher Kyle Gibson is in awe of the show fellow All-Star Shohei Ohtani has done this season.@kgib44 | #ShoheiOhtani | #StraightUpTX | #ShoTime | @AllStarGame pic.twitter.com/xDfMYZBcpz
— Bally Sports Southwest (@BallySportsSW) July 13, 2021
In the first half this year, Gibson pitched to a 2.29 ERA, 3.46 FIP, and 1.07 WHIP over 17 starts.
His success has come as a major surprise to many, as he entered the 2021 campaign with a career 4.57 ERA in eight MLB seasons.
He is under contract through the 2022 season, so he’d be more than just a rental for whichever team acquires him.
The Rangers would be wise to capitalize on his stellar season by trading him while his value is high.
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