Five years on, the Joey Gallo trade has settled into a pretty obvious shape.
What began as a deadline move built around the Yankees’ push for a postseason spot and the Rangers’ desire to stockpile prospect talent has turned into one of the most one-sided deals of the 2021 trade deadline. New York got All-Star slugger Joey Gallo and reliever Joely Rodriguez. Texas landed Ezequiel Duran, Josh Smith, Glenn Otto, and Trevor Hauver.
The Yankees were chasing left-handed power when they brought in Gallo, and the fit looked clean on paper. He had already launched 25 homers in 95 games for Texas that season and was headed to his second All-Star selection.
His power, plate discipline, and defense made him look like exactly the kind of bat New York wanted. Instead, the move never clicked.
Across 140 games with the Yankees in 2021 and 2022, Gallo hit just .159 with a .660 OPS, and his slugging percentage fell more than 100 points from .497 with the Rangers to .368 in pinstripes. New York sent him to the Dodgers at the 2022 trade deadline, and he later spent time with the Twins, Nationals, and White Sox before turning his attention to pitching after Chicago released him in 2025.
Rodriguez gave the Yankees a short-term bullpen boost. The left-hander had been struggling in Texas, carrying a 5.93 ERA in 31 appearances before the deal. He bounced back with a 2.84 ERA in 21 games for New York, then was moved to the Mets that offseason in a rare crosstown trade.
Texas, meanwhile, has gotten the better end of the prospect package by a wide margin. Smith has been the headliner.
He debuted with the Rangers in 2022 and broke through in 2024, when he hit .258 with a 114 OPS+ and 30 doubles while winning a Silver Slugger Award. He followed that with another strong season in 2025, though his age-28 year this season has been slowed by health issues and uneven production.
Duran has also become a real piece for Texas. The 27-year-old debuted in 2022 and showed flashes early, but he has taken a bigger step in 2026, batting .273 with a .781 OPS and 44 extra-base hits. His career has included plenty of inconsistency and a utility role that has limited his playing time, but that breakout could change the conversation around his role going forward.
Otto was the lone pitcher in the Rangers’ return, and he reached the majors just weeks after the trade. He had a rough finish that year, was serviceable in 2022, and then saw his progress stall because of injuries, including a right shoulder strain that cost him much of 2023. He later pitched in the San Diego and Houston organizations and last appeared professionally in 2024.
Hauver’s path has been slower. Texas moved him to the outfield right after the trade and sent him to High-A, then Double-A in 2022 and Triple-A in 2024. He has put up solid minor league numbers, but the 27-year-old still hasn’t reached the majors, with his defense and the Rangers’ crowded outfield making the climb difficult.
After five years, the verdict is hard to miss. The Yankees hoped Gallo would help fuel a postseason charge, but his run in New York fell well short. Texas, on the other hand, walked away with Smith and Duran as major league contributors, and that makes the Rangers the clear winners.
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