ARLINGTON, Texas _ Joey Gallo wants to be a Texas Rangers lifer.
The slugger spoke with the media for the first time since last week's trade deadline before Tuesday's series opener against the Los Angeles Angels at Globe Life Field.
Gallo didn't pay too much attention to all of the rumors flying, many suggesting he was on the block.
At least until the final couple of days, when everyone who knows started blowing up his phone with texts.
" 'Dude you're getting traded!' " Gallo said. " 'Hey, what's going on? Hey, where are you going? Hey you're going to Tampa ...' "
Gallo said it took him by surprise because during the season he tries to keep his social media presence to a minimum.
"And then it started to increase and my friends from back home were messaging me ... then I started to get a little nervous," he said.
His name has been in the mix before, including when he was an up-and-coming prospect in the minors.
"But this one was definitely a lot more real, where I went to (bed) and it was tough to sleep because I really didn't know if I was going to wake up and be in a different city. I went to sleep thinking 'This might be the last time I play for the Texas Rangers,' " he said.
And that was tough for him. Gallo loves the organization that selected him out of high school in the first round of the June 2012 draft.
"It was sad because I love this organization and I want to win here and I love playing here. So it was a long night for sure and I'm glad I didn't (get traded) because I think there's a lot of work we can do here," Gallo said, still sounding relieved a week later. "I want to win as a Texas Ranger."
Rangers general manager Jon Daniels called Gallo after the deadline passed to make sure the 26-year-old (he turns 27 on Nov. 19) knows the club appreciates having him. Gallo has struggled at the plate this season. He had eight home runs and 20 RBIs before Tuesday's game but was only hitting .183. He hit .253 with 20 homers in 70 games in 2019. He had 41 and 40 homers in 2017 and 2018, respectively.
"I love playing for Texas and I want to be here, and I want to help you guys win in the future," Gallo told Daniels. "But obviously, business is business, too. I understand that aspect of it."
The Rangers know he'd love to sign a long-term deal, Gallo said. His current contract is through 2022.
"I understand right now we're at a stage where we're not competing; I get that," he said. "But for me, I love being a Texas Ranger. I've always seen myself playing here for a long, long time. So when those trade rumors came up, that's why I was a little nervous, like 'Damn, this is not the way I saw things going.' "
Gallo said the club has yet to offer anything.
"I'm obviously open to extending the future here, but I have to get offers first. I can't really make my own offer," he said. "So I think they understand now that I am interested in being here and I want to be here for the future."
