In a move that has baseball fans buzzing, Zac Gallen is officially returning to the Arizona Diamondbacks on a one-year, $22.025 million deal, according to sources close to the situation. But here’s where it gets controversial: despite a season that many would call underwhelming, the D-backs are betting big on Gallen’s potential to bounce back. And this is the part most people miss—Gallen turned down multi-year offers from other teams to stay in Arizona, a decision that speaks volumes about his loyalty and commitment to the franchise.
The deal, which mirrors the qualifying offer Gallen rejected in November, includes $14 million in deferred payments and is pending a physical. While the club has yet to confirm the agreement, the writing is on the wall: Gallen is here to stay. Since joining the Diamondbacks in 2019 from the Marlins, he’s made Arizona his home and has been vocal about his desire to remain a D-back. After his final start of the 2023 season against the Padres, Gallen’s emotional attachment to the team was on full display. He lingered on the mound and hesitated to take off his uniform, saying, ‘Wearing this uniform for seven years now, I think of myself as a D-back… If it’s the last time, it’ll be a tough pill to swallow.’
Gallen’s journey hasn’t been without its highs and lows. A seven-season veteran, he finished in the top five of National League Cy Young voting in both 2022 and 2023. In 2022, he posted a stellar 2.54 ERA and a 44 1/3-inning scoreless streak—a feat that cemented his status as one of the league’s elite pitchers. The following year, he led the D-backs’ rotation to a pennant win, even taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning of Game 5 of the World Series against the Rangers. But here’s the bold question: Can Gallen return to that form after a 2024 season that saw his ERA balloon to 4.83 and his walk rate jump to 8.7%?
The past two seasons have been a rollercoaster for the 30-year-old New Jersey native. A right hamstring strain sidelined him for a month in 2024, and his performance this year has been his most forgettable yet. Career-worst numbers in ERA, FIP, strikeout rate, and barrel rate have raised eyebrows. However, there’s reason for optimism. Over his final 11 starts in August and September, Gallen posted a 3.32 ERA, completing six innings in all but two of those games. His ability to mix a 93 mph four-seamer with a knuckle curve and changeup resulted in a significant drop in hard-hit and barrel rates, hinting at a potential resurgence.
Originally a third-round pick by the Cardinals in the 2016 Draft, Gallen’s career has been shaped by two major trades. In 2017, he was part of a package sent to the Marlins for Marcell Ozuna, alongside Sandy Alcantara. Two years later, he found his home in Arizona in a trade for Jazz Chisholm Jr. Now, as he enters this one-year deal, the question remains: Can Gallen reclaim his Cy Young-caliber form, or will the struggles of recent seasons persist? What do you think? Is this a smart move by the D-backs, or are they taking a risky gamble? Let us know in the comments!
