This page may contain affiliate links. If you click and sign up, make a deposit, or place a wager, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Gallen signed a one-year, $22.025 milion contract with the Diamondbacks on Friday, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports.
After not receiving the level of interest he might have expected on the open market, Gallen will officially return to the Diamondbacks for another season on a contract that will pay him the same amount as the qualifying offer he declined earlier this winter. The 30-year-old righty is coming off the worst season of his big-league career, as he finished 2025 with a 4.83 ERA and 1.26 WHIP while serving up 31 homers -- tied for fourth-most in MLB. He remains a reliable option from a health standpoint, however, making at least 31 starts in three of the past four years.
Gallen rejected the Diamondbacks' one-year, $22.025 million qualifying offer Tuesday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
The decision was anticipated, and Gallen will now seek a multi-year contract on the free-agent market. If he departs Arizona, the Diamondbacks will receive a draft pick as compensation. Gallen posted a career-worst 4.83 ERA in 2025, but he had a career 3.29 ERA with a 26.6 percent strikeout rate coming into the season. The 30-year-old should have little trouble landing a lucrative multi-year contract.
The Diamondbacks extended a one-year, $22.05 million qualifying offer to Gallen on Thursday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Gallen is coming off the worst season of his MLB career, with his 4.83 ERA, 15 losses, 8.2 K/9 and 1.5 HR/9 all being career worsts. Though it's unclear just how large the market will be for Gallen after a down year, he could decline the qualifying offer in hopes of securing a long-term deal ahead of his age-30 campaign. If he does so and then signs elsewhere, Arizona would receive draft compensation.
Diamondbacks' Zac Gallen: Poor end to rough season
Rotowire
Gallen (13-15) allowed six runs (five earned) on seven hits and three walks while striking out three over 4.1 innings to take the loss versus the Padres on Friday.
A Fernando Tatis grand slam in the fourth inning flipped this game in the Padres' favor. Gallen was pushed back a day after dealing with fatigue stemming from an illness in recent weeks, but his final start of 2025 was reflective of his year as a whole. The right-hander finishes the season at a career-worst 4.83 ERA while adding a 1.26 WHIP and 175:66 K:BB over 192 innings through 33 starts. He also gave up a career-high 31 homers, an area in which the 30-year-old will need to improve if he is to get back on track in 2026.
Diamondbacks' Zac Gallen: Pushed to Friday due to fatigue
Rotowire
Gallen's next start was pushed back a day to Friday in San Diego due to fatigue/illness, Jody Jackson of Bally Sports Arizona reports.
It was Gallen's turn Thursday versus the Dodgers, but he's dealt with an illness during his last two starts that's sapped his strength. His performance in those outings appeared unaffected, as the righty yielded four runs with a 15:3 K:BB over 13 innings, but the Diamondbacks nonetheless made the decision to give Gallen an extra day of rest. Jalen Beeks is opening and Nabil Crismatt is slated for bulk relief Thursday.
... See More... See Less
Diamondbacks' Zac Gallen: Strikes out nine in win
Rotowire
Gallen (13-14) allowed three runs on four hits and two walks while striking out nine over seven innings to earn the win Saturday over the Phillies.
The nine strikeouts were the most Gallen has had in a start since July 7 versus the Padres. This was his sixth quality start in his last seven outings, and it was the first time he's completed seven frames since July 1 against the Giants. Gallen is ending the year strong, though his early struggles are evident in his 4.70 ERA and 1.24 WHIP through 187.2 innings. Gallen also allowed 30 homers in a season for the first time in his career when he gave up a solo shot to Alec Bohm in the fourth inning, giving Gallen the third-most homers allowed by a qualified starting pitcher this season. The right-hander's regular season is projected to come to a close with a home start versus the Dodgers next week.
Gallen (12-14) allowed one run on two hits and a walk while striking out six over six innings to earn the win over the Giants on Monday.
Gallen was stingy despite throwing just 57 of 96 pitches for strikes, with the lone run on his line being the result of a Casey Schmitt solo home run in the third inning. This was Gallen's fifth quality start in his last six outings, the lone exception being his five-run appearance in San Francisco last week. Gallen is now at a 4.73 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 163:61 K:BB across 180.2 innings over 31 starts this season, though he has a 2.68 ERA in 53.2 innings through his last nine outings. He's projected for a tough home start versus the Phillies this weekend.
8:55
0:20
1:15
0:33
10:43
0:56
0:57
0:59
1:50
10:09
0:42
10:03
1:42
11:48
9:23
0:34
1:02
8:50
1:05
1:21
