The D-backs and Zac Gallen: A Potential Reunion or Just Wishful Thinking? As Zac Gallen navigates the uncertain waters of free agency, whispers of a potential return to the Arizona Diamondbacks are growing louder. While it might seem like a long shot, especially after Arizona's significant payroll adjustments following a period of heavy spending in 2025, Gallen himself has expressed an openness to reuniting with the team.
"I think people understand what Phoenix means to me," Gallen shared when asked about the possibility of coming back. "My wife is from here. I’m calling this home base now, so for us to be here would be awesome. It’s been really humbling that [fans] have come up to me and would like me to come back — especially because I know how the first half of last year went, we didn’t make the playoffs, things like that. It gives you chills that people still want you to come back and be a part of the organization."
But here's where it gets complex... Gallen's 2025 season was a tale of two halves. The first portion was, to put it mildly, a struggle. He managed only two consecutive quality starts in his first 22 appearances, posting a concerning 5.60 ERA over 127 innings. His strikeout and walk rates were heading in the wrong direction, and he was giving up more home runs than ever before. In fact, he surrendered 23 homers in those first 22 starts, surpassing his career-best full-season total, despite not even being three-quarters of the way through the year.
And this is the part most people miss... While Gallen did show improvement in the final two months, it wasn't a complete turnaround. His ERA dropped to a much healthier 3.32 over his last 11 starts (65 innings), but surprisingly, his strikeout rate actually dipped slightly. While his command tightened up and he avoided hard contact more effectively, his underlying metrics (SIERA) remained remarkably similar to the first part of the season. So, what changed? Essentially, Gallen became more successful at stranding runners, finishing the season with a 76.5% strand rate in the final third compared to 64% in the first two-thirds. This, coupled with a decrease in home runs allowed, painted a rosier picture than the underlying performance might have fully supported.
Even if Gallen can't quite recapture the elite form he displayed from 2019-2024 (a 3.29 ERA with a 26.6% strikeout rate), his presence would undoubtedly bolster the Diamondbacks' rotation. Currently, the projected rotation includes Merrill Kelly, Ryne Nelson, Eduardo Rodriguez, Brandon Pfaadt, and new signee Michael Soroka. Beyond this group, the depth options like Yilber Diaz, Kohl Drake, Mitch Bratt, and Cristian Mena have very little major league experience. This means that even a single significant injury could force the D-backs to rely heavily on unproven rookies to fill out a staff that already features several pitchers needing to bounce back.
Is a reunion truly on the horizon? Reports suggest Gallen would prefer to have his future settled by the time spring training begins next week, leaving a tight window for any deal to materialize. The Diamondbacks are reportedly operating at or near the payroll limits set by owner Ken Kendrick. One speculative approach could involve a two-year contract, with the second year being a player option, similar to the strategy employed with Jordan Montgomery in the 2023-24 offseason. However, to make such a deal work for Gallen, a more creative financial structure, perhaps including deferred payments, might be necessary.
Here's where it gets truly interesting... The Montgomery deal, as we know, didn't work out as planned. Montgomery underwent Tommy John surgery mid-2024 after struggling with a high ERA, leading to public disappointment from Kendrick. This might make one question if the team would revisit a similar tactic. However, Gallen is a different story entirely. He's spent a significant portion of his career in Arizona, is highly regarded by fans and the organization, and even by Kendrick himself. Kendrick recently praised Gallen, calling him a "special young man" and highlighting his dedication, even mentioning his standout performance in a World Series game. He stated, "I don’t want to say it’s out of the touch of reality that we’d work out an arrangement to bring him back. He’s been a great D-back."
While this doesn't guarantee a reversal of budget plans, the longer Gallen remains unsigned and the closer spring training approaches, the more a return to Arizona seems like a plausible outcome. It's worth noting that Gallen rejected a qualifying offer from the D-backs, meaning they are the only team that wouldn't need to forfeit draft picks to sign him.
What do you think? Should the Diamondbacks prioritize bringing Zac Gallen back, even with potential payroll concerns? Or is it time for them to focus on developing their current pitching staff and exploring other options? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
