The Arizona Diamondbacks have decided to re-sign Zac Gallen for one year, pending a physical exam. This deal guarantees him $22.025 million. Interestingly, $14 million of this will be deferred, meaning the team will pay Gallen about $8 million this year.
Gallen had a tough season last year, which hurt his market appeal. He was expected to land a big contract when he became a free agent but ended up with his worst stats to date: a 4.83 ERA and a 21.5% strikeout rate. Early in the season, he struggled, giving up a lot of runs and carrying a 5.40 ERA into the All-Star break.
Despite this, Gallen improved later on. He showed better results in his final months, maintaining a 3.32 ERA over his last 65 innings. This improvement helped the Diamondbacks stay competitive in the Wild Card race until the final weekend of the regular season.
However, while stats show his potential for improvement, Gallen’s strikeout ability dropped sharply to 20% during this stretch. His pitches, especially the fastball, didn’t change much. It averaged 93.5 mph, which is typical. Yet, batters found more success against him as the season progressed.
Gallen’s situation also ties into the team’s financial planning. The Diamondbacks were committed to keeping him in a way that wouldn’t stretch their budget. His recent performance led the management to believe they could work out a deal without impacting their overall salary cap significantly.
It’s worth mentioning that re-signing Gallen avoids the loss of a draft pick, which is a common risk for teams signing free agents. This strategic move likely saves the Diamondbacks valuable future talents.
Gallen himself might not have visualized this outcome for his foray into free agency. Reports indicate he turned down multi-year offers from other teams, showing preference for staying with the Diamondbacks. He had hoped for a more lucrative contract based on his past performance, but did not receive it, partly due to his inconsistent season.
Looking back, Gallen’s past several years suggest he can bounce back—many players have improved significantly after facing such challenges. If he regains his form, he may attract attention in free agency again at age 31, which could lead to even bigger contract opportunities.
For now, Gallen will focus on helping the Diamondbacks thrive, especially in a challenging NL West division. This next season will be crucial for him and the team’s aspirations. Time will reveal how both Gallen’s performance and the Diamondbacks’ strategies will play out in a competitive environment.
If you want to learn more about player contracts and free agency trends in Major League Baseball, check out MLB Trade Rumors.
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