Diamondbacks president: ‘We haven’t even discussed’ moving on from Zac Gallen
Gallen is 3-8 with a 6.36 ERA and 1.57 WHIP through 18 starts (92 innings pitched) this season.
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President and CEO of the Diamondbacks Derrick Hall said Arizona is going to stick with Zac Gallen, and “we hope that pays off.”
Hall told Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta on Thursday the Diamondbacks have not had any conversations with Gallen about moving on from him.
Hall’s comments come after Gallen’s latest poor performance. The right hander surrendered six earned runs and seven hits, including two home runs, in 5.2 innings of work in Wednesday’s loss to the San Francisco Giants. Gallen’s ERA ballooned to 6.36, the worst in the majors. It was his third start in a row where he has given up at least five earned runs.
“We haven’t even discussed” moving on from Gallen, Hall said. “I think any time you’re talking about any player that’s been with you, not him, but any player that’s been with you and made such contributions, that’s always gonna be a tough choice — what you do with a starter.”
Since arriving in Arizona in a 2019 deal that sent Jazz Chisholm Jr. to the Miami Marlins, Gallen ranks third in franchise history in innings (1,063), third in starts (187), fourth in bWAR for pitchers (17.7) and seventh in win probability added (6.8).
Gallen, 30, returned to the Diamondbacks in the offseason on a one-year deal at $16.9 million but has struggled in his 18 starts in 2026, posting a 1.57 WHIP.
Batters are hitting .307 against Gallen this season, and he has given up 39 extra-base hits.
Gallen struggled for much of last season as well and did not sign until mid-February. He made 33 starts and had a 4.83 ERA and 1.26 WHIP.
“Can you turn him around? Can you get him back on track? You talk about options — does he go to the bullpen? Is there something wrong with him? I think he’s fine physically,” Hall said.
“I think he showed that last night but of course all the options, any time you’re discussing anybody on that roster that’s a veteran and has been a part of the success of the past — the past few seasons — it’s always difficult to have those conversations, but we certainly haven’t had any with Zac Gallen.”
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Comments
24 Comments
That’s the problem with you. You haven’t even discussed it. How about moving on from Pavin Smith? Why is he starting?
“We haven’t even discussed (moving on from Gallen),”..... WELL, YOU SHOULD!!!!!
One of the problems with pitchers like Gallen (and Kelly and Pfaadt for that matter), who rely on location and movement rather than overpowering hitters with pure stuff, is that they have to be perfect. If location is a little bit off or their off speed pitches aren’t quite biting like normal, they’re completely exposed. They can’t just fall back on the 98mph heater to get them out of a jam. We’re seeing it right now with E-Rod. He can put the ball wherever he wants right now. We all saw what happened last year when that wasn’t the case. It drives me nuts when I see every pitcher the dbacks face come out throwing 96+ and then I see every guy for the dbacks, except Nelson, come out throwing 92. Even the guys we have coming up from the minors to make spot starts are command and control guys. That doesn’t fly in today’s game. Or At least it’s very rare to have success as a puff baller. The game evolves. Right now velocity is necessary