Joey Gallo knows his time with New York Yankees is almost over

The storm clouds are swirling around Joey Gallo. It is a matter of time before the New York Yankees outfielder is elsewhere, which he is well aware of.

Gallo is also aware of his performance during his time with the Yankees. Or, to be more specific, his lack thereof. He knows those struggles led to the Yankees’ acquisition of Andrew Benintendi and will be his subsequent ticket out of town.

Joey Gallo could not get it done with New York Yankees

That does not mean that he understands those struggles. As he said to Lindsey Adler of The Athletic on Thursday, “Every time I see a Yankees hat, every time I see a Yankees jersey, it’s something I’m going to have to understand. I didn’t play well as a Yankee. I wish I had.”

Gallo certainly did not live up to those expectations. He was expected to be that missing piece in the lineup, another powerful bat that would team up with Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge. Instead, he has produced a disappointing .159/.291/.368 batting line in his 501 plate appearances in New York, hitting 25 homers while striking out 194 times.

New York, and specifically the Yankees, are not for everyone. The list of players who have crumbled in the spotlight and with the weight of those expectations is long. In the end, Gallo is just another name to be added to that collection; he is not the first and certainly will not be the last.

It is also probable that he will find success elsewhere. Leaving the pressure cooker of New York for a more relaxed atmosphere has done wonders for players in the past. Even if those teams have postseason aspirations and championship expectations, the slower pace and ability to just take a breath makes a major difference. Such is likely to be the case with Gallo as well.

Joey Gallo knows that he failed to live up to expectations with the New York Yankees. And he knows that will be his ticket out of town shortly.