Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen is close to re-signing with the team for a one-year deal worth about $22 million. Though this matches the qualifying offer he declined earlier, a significant portion of the salary, around $14 million, will be deferred. The contract still hinges on him passing a physical.
Last season was a tough one for Gallen, impacting his value on the market. Initially, he was considered a strong candidate for a $100 million contract. Despite staying healthy and making all his 33 starts, he ended with a personal worst: a 4.83 ERA and a troubling 21.5% strikeout rate.
His performance dipped particularly in the first half. For four straight months, he allowed over five earned runs per nine innings. By the All-Star break, he had a 5.40 ERA, and teams were not willing to trade for him despite the Diamondbacks selling off other players like Josh Naylor and Merrill Kelly.
As the season progressed, Gallen found some rhythm, turning in quality starts in eight of his last eleven games. He finished strong, boasting a 3.32 ERA over his last 65 innings, helping the Diamondbacks stay competitive in the Wild Card race. Yet, even in this late surge, his strikeout rate remained low at 20%.
Analysts note that Gallen’s fastball averaged 93.5 mph—just around league average. He had decent results with his knuckle-curve and changeup, but his other pitches, like the cutter and slider, were hit harder.
Looking ahead, it’s uncertain if the Diamondbacks will adjust his pitch mix going into 2026. Gallen already started favoring changeups over four-seam fastballs late last season. Despite a rough year, his advanced metrics suggest he might be due for a bounce-back, indicating that he deserves better stats than his near-5.00 ERA shows.
In the world of baseball, Gallen’s experience isn’t unique. Many players have faced ups and downs throughout their careers, and this trend highlights the unpredictable nature of the sport. For now, fans are curious to see how Gallen will adapt moving forward.
For more about Gallen’s performance and other baseball insights, check out resources like ESPN and Baseball Reference.
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