Report: Talks ‘heating up’ for starter Zac Gallen; Diamondbacks remain interested
The Arizona Diamondbacks are among the teams reportedly in starting pitcher Zac Gallen, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale.
Watch: 'I didn't get it done': D-backs general manager Mike Hazen on the trade deadline | 11 mins
The market for starting pitcher Zac Gallen is “heating up,” according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.
Nightengale adds the Arizona Diamondbacks, San Diego Padres, Baltimore Orioles and Chicago Cubs as the teams looking to sign Gallen.
As the D-backs’ pitchers and catchers report to spring training on Tuesday, Gallen remains a free agent following seven years with the Diamondbacks. He declined Arizona’s qualifying offer of a one-year, $22.05 million deal last November.
“People have been like, ‘Hey, we’d really love for you to come back.’ I think people understand what Phoenix means to me,” Gallen told reporters during the WM Phoenix Open. “My wife is from here. I’m calling this home base now. For us to be here would be awesome.”
Wherever Gallen lands, he’ll be looking for a major bounce back after last year’s showing in a contract year.
Gallen, 30, is coming off his worst season as a pro behind a 4.83 ERA and 1.260 WHIP. He posted a 13-15 record across 33 starts (192 innings pitched).
Getting Gallen back in the mix would give the D-backs another starting option as Corbin Burnes works his way back from Tommy John surgery.
Talking to reporters on Tuesday, Burnes said he’s eyeing a mid-July return, though is going to try to push for a sooner return date.
Arizona also brought back starting pitcher Merrill Kelly this offseason, who currently projects as one of the top Opening Day options in Arizona and is a known commodity in the clubhouse.
Ryne Nelson, Brandon Pfaadt and Eduardo Rodriguez return for another year in Arizona, while Michael Soroka presents an outside option brought in for the D-backs to consider.
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Comments
6 Comments
More hopium pushing for the Dbacks to sign Gallen.
Last summer, it was reported that Gallen wanted a 5-year or 6-year contract worth between $ 100M to $ 130M. The reality is that Gallen had a terrible year which included being one of the 9 worst starting pitchers in the MLB (Source Arizona Sports). Unless a team is desparate, no one is going to give a 30-YO who had a terrible season a five or six year contract with a guaranteed $ 100M+ contract..
From what I have read, Balitomore is offering a one-year contract at $ 24M, the Cubs are offering a two-year deal at $23M a year and the Dbacks are offering a 3-year contract at $22M a year.
I don't know if these numbers are accurate since it was published on December 9, 2025 that the Giants was going to propose a six-year contract worth $145 million, averaging approximately $24.17 million annually with strategic incentive bonuses.
Zac: Be a man and sign with the Dbacks and prove to the fans, your teammates, the Dbacks front office and more importantly to yourself that you are not a has-been, your best years are in front of you not behind you, and have an outstanding season. Be like Coach Curt Cignetti (who had an incentive based contract) not like the typical money grabber professional athletes!
My prediction is that Gallen will sign with the Cubs since the Cubs are deseparate!
No one seems to know much around here. Every move has been a surprise and then unquestioned. Even Torey seemed minimally informed, sounded perplexed today. It seems anything but an organized season start.
No one (media) still has asked or answered why Saalfrank surgery was covered up or not done months ago.....timing brings up many questions.