Yovani Gallardo Trade Rumors: Latest Buzz, Speculation on Rangers Pitcher

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Yovani Gallardo is emerging as a potential target for teams looking to upgrade their rotation before the trade deadline July 31.  

Continue for updates.

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Gallardo Could Stay with Texas

Friday, July 31

Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reported the Rangers appear to be preparing to hold onto Gallardo.

Heyman previously reported that the Chicago Cubs, Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers were the most aggressive in their pursuit of Gallardo, with the New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants also in the mix.

On July 27, Jayson Stark of ESPN reported the Rangers were telling clubs they "might not move him unless they get a return that makes it worthwhile."

The 29-year-old longtime member of the Milwaukee Brewers was traded to the Rangers back in January. He's enjoyed a resurgence, at least on the surface, following his move to the American League with a 3.39 ERA across 22 starts.

Interested teams should remain a bit skeptical because the advanced numbers paint a different picture. While his ERA is down, his strikeout rate continues to diminish as well. Combine that with a walk rate that's remained stable, and there's a good chance for regression down the stretch.

Category	K/9	BB/9	ERA	xFIP	SIERA
Career	8.36	3.31	3.63	3.60	3.75
2015	5.94	3.39	3.39	4.27	4.50

While those numbers don't guarantee he's going to struggle during the second half, they showcase he's not pitching as well as his ERA would suggest. It's something a front office must at least consider before making a deal for him.

The price must be right, though. Along with the concerning peripherals, Gallardo is set to become a free agent following the season after earning $14 million for 2015, per Spotrac. There's a good chance he's just a rental for a couple of months.

If a team were able to add him for a mid-range prospect or two, it's worth taking a chance. Anything more and it should move toward other options.