Former St. Louis Cardinals reliever Giovanny Gallegos has signed a minor-league deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers after a challenging stretch in his career.
Gallegos, 33, struggled in St. Louis last season and was eventually released. He briefly joined the Minnesota Twins but never made it back to the majors. Now, he’s looking for a fresh start with the Dodgers, a team known for reviving struggling pitchers.
From 2019 to 2022, Gallegos was a reliable bullpen arm, posting a 2.84 ERA with a 32% strikeout rate. His success earned him a contract extension, but his performance declined significantly over the past two seasons.
This offseason, Gallegos has focused on rebuilding his mechanics, something the Dodgers are well-equipped to assist with. The Cardinals, after exhausting their options, decided to part ways with him.
Giovanny Gallegos could get revenge on the Cardinals for letting him go
Giovanny Gallegos made it clear he didn’t want to leave St. Louis, publicly expressing his love for the city, the team, and its fans.
“This is my home. This is my team,” Gallegos told MLB.com. “I like the city and I like the people, and I play for them. I’ve always enjoyed the game and always tried to be better for the people of this city.”
Unfortunately, baseball is a tough business. Gallegos wasn’t performing at the level required, and with roster spots limited, the Cardinals had no choice but to let him go.
“I like this guy a ton,” Cardinals manager Oli Marmol said at the time. “You look at this guy’s workload over the last few years, and he’s been a horse for us. So, whenever someone has a down period, it’s easy to throw them aside, but I think highly of Gio.”
Despite strong relationships within the organization, Gallegos’ production ultimately didn’t match expectations. The Dodgers, known for fixing struggling pitchers, now have the opportunity to help him return to form—potentially making the Cardinals regret their decision to part ways with him.
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