ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.- The Yankees appear to be going for it — for better or worse.
They were nearing a deal to acquire Texas Rangers outfielder Joey Gallo on Wednesday night, The Post’s Joel Sherman confirmed.
Gallo, long coveted in The Bronx, was scratched from the Rangers’ lineup Wednesday and would give them some much-needed left-handed power.
If the trade is completed, it is expected to also send lefty reliever Joely Rodriguez to The Bronx in exchange for four minor leaguers: infielders Ezekiel Duran (High-A Hudson Valley), Trevor Hauver and Josh Smith (both in Low-A Tampa), as well as right-hander Glenn Otto (Double-A Somerset).
Gallo is owed roughly $2.3 million this season and Rodriguez $1.05 million, though Sherman reported the Rangers will pick up that salary for this season.
The move is not just a rental, since Gallo is still arbitration eligible and won’t become a free agent until after next season.
While the deal was not official, Aaron Judge was excited about the potential of playing with Gallo following Wednesday’s win over Tampa Bay.
“He’s a guy who can hit it out of any ballpark,’’ Judge said. “If it’s true we get him, it will be something special.”
Chad Green said he first heard of the potential deal when a fan started yelling that the Yankees got Gallo.
The 27-year-old Gallo is another high-walk, high-strikeout option. He has 25 homers and an OPS of .869 this season after a disappointing 2020.
Rpdriguez, also 27, has a 1.610 WHIP in 27 ⅓ innings this season, but has been effective against lefties (.488 OPS).
The Yankees entered Thursday 8 ½ games back of Boston in the AL East and 2 ½ games back of Oakland for the second AL wild card spot.
For a team with hardly any left-handed production this season after losing switch-hitter Aaron Hicks to wrist surgery, Gallo would give them a serious threat from that side of the plate to go along with Rougned Odor — who was also acquired from the Rangers this season.
“That would be huge,’’ Judge said. “To give pitchers a different look. When you have all right-handed guys, pitchers get into rhythms.”
Gallo can play first and third base in addition to the outfield and is a Gold Glove right fielder.
Unlike in previous seasons, there is no non-waiver deadline, so all deals must be completed by Friday afternoon.
The 6-foot-5, 250-pound Gallo would join a lineup that also includes Judge and Giancarlo Stanton — both of whom have been hindered by injuries.
Gallo has appeared in 95 games for the Rangers this season — his highest total since he played 148- and hit 40 homers — in 2018.
He’d come to a team looking for an offensive spark, as the lineup has been a major disappointment this year, called out this month by managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner, who indicated he didn’t want the Yankees to become sellers at the deadline.
Before the Yankees’ talks with Texas regarding Gallo picked up, the A’s acquired outfielder Starling Marte from the Marlins, who had been a potential Yankee target.
The Yankees had been intrigued by Marte, 32, who is set to become a free agent after the season.
Oakland gave up 23-year-old left-hander Jesus Luzardo to Miami. Luzardo has struggled this year, but is still seen as an excellent young arm — and more than the Yankees were believed willing to give up for a rental.
The Yankees remain on the search for upgrades.