The hot stove is now starting to heat up as the MLB trade deadline inches closer and closer. Among the players who could be on the move over the coming weeks is Texas Rangers slugger Joey Gallo. One recent report from Joel Sherman of the New York Post noted that Gallo is expected to receive plenty of trade interest ahead of the July 30 trade deadline, including from the San Diego Padres.

Padres general manager A. J. Preller most notably drafted Joey Gallo during his time in the Rangers front office. As he has shown over the past year, Preller is not afraid to make blockbuster trades, even if it means parting ways with some of San Diego's most coveted prospects.

It is currently not known whether the Padres plan to do what it takes to acquire Gallo, but this potential trade package would be a notable deal for both sides.

Potential trade package:

Rangers receive: Tucupita Marcano (INF), Justin Lange (RHP) and Efrain Contreras (RHP)

Padres receive: Joey Gallo (RF)

While the Padres do not have an urgent need for an outfielder, Gallo's prowess on the plate would be a key addition to an already well-rounded lineup.

Gallo's improvement in drawing walks would surely add another dimension to San Diego's potent offense; he currently sports a career-high .402 OBP.

Of course, his ability as a power bat is what is garnering the interest from the Padres front office for a possible trade. From his 24 home runs to a +153 wRC, he has what it takes to provide the Padres with a much-needed extra boost over the upcoming stretch run of the season.

On the other hand, it is clear that the Rangers are currently in the midst of a rebuild. Many expected Texas to finish near the bottom of the American League standings this season, and this has panned out so far, as they currently hold the second-worst record (33-55) in the league.

Thus, the Rangers should take full advantage of the trade deadline and offload many of their coveted players, which include Gallo.

The Rangers' priority should be to haul in promising pitching prospects.

As a team, the Rangers hold a concerning 4.45 ERA, which ranks 22nd in all of baseball. In the big picture, the Rangers are in dire need of revamping their farm system with MLB-ready prospects. Out of their top 15 ranked prospects according to MLB.com, only three are pitchers, which include Cole Winn, who they selected with their first-round pick in the 2018 MLB Draft.

It would take much for Rangers general manager Chris Young to acquire Padres' top pitching prospect Mackenzie Gore in this possible deal. Thus, they could settle with current Padres' prospects Tucupita Marcano (5th), Justin Lange (6th) and Efrain Contreras (15th).

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The Padres could begin to bolster their starting pitching depth within their farm system with the likes of Lange and Contreras.

Lange was a first-round pick by the Padres in the 2020 MLB Draft and has been among their rising prospects as of late. The 19-year-old is years away from making his major league debut, as he is currently featuring in rookie ball. Still, he does have the potential to be a middle-of-the-rotation starter considering his promising mid-90s fastball.

For Contreras, he would be more of a low-risk, high-reward acquisition. Contreras is currently sidelined due to Tommy John surgery. But at the age of 24, he still has plenty of potential as either a back-of-the-rotation starter or a reliever.

Now, while the Rangers are in desperate need of pitching, they could use a promising infielder like Tucupita Marcano. He has featured for the Padres this season, which includes hitting for .182 over 44 at-bats. Still, his ability to play multiple positions coupled with his range as a defender could make him a player who the Rangers could add for the future.

It will be noteworthy to see just how many teams plan to show an interest in trading for Gallo and whether the Rangers will aim to settle for a certain offer.