[Nightengale] The Chicago Cubs are close to finalizing an agreement with free-agent starter Zac Gallen on a multi-year deal that will pay him an average of $22 million a year. Gallen, with three top-10 Cy Young finishes, has averaged 32 starts a year for the past 4 seasons.

33 comments

  4. I don’t hate it, but I do hate that it’s probably the only move we make on starting pitchers 

  5. Dbacks and Cubs fan here, he was real rough for most of last year, can be pretty fly ball prone which is bad for Wrigley, IMO. If he’s ON he’s fun to watch though. Hopefully the Cubs get that Milkman to deliver the Ws.

  9. I like this deal. He had an off year but has good stuff. Get him in our lab, let’s go! I like this Jed!!!

  12. Wait I thought we weren’t going to spend any money? Could this sub have been wrong, yet again?

  15. Ugh we never go for top FA. Always chasing discounts.

    I hope Gallen can bounce back but disappointed it’s not Imai or a trade for someone with more upside.

    Any good summaries why he was suddenly so bad last year?

  19. Gallen’s 2025 was definitely rough, but he has a strong track record. This is one of those “if it works out it’s an amazing signing but if it doesn’t then woof what were we doing” type moves. 22 mil is a bit higher than I thought Gallen would get, but I don’t think it’s an egregious overpay or anything.

    Career ERA of 3.58, FIP of 3.65. 9.5 K/9 on his career, too. Career lows in all three last year, at 4.83, 4.50, and 8.2, respectively.

    If that’s a blip or a byproduct of plaything through injury or something, and the Cubs think they’ll get normal Zac Gallen, it’s a great signing. But if last year isn’t a fluke and is the start of a downward trend, then well, buckle up.

    I’m choosing to be optimistic about this one.

    Edit: Aaaand Passan has rendered that brief analysis practically worthless lmao. Thanks Boob

  20. Nightingale should be banned from cubs news here. He’s only good at white Sox cause hes friends with jerry

  29. Gallen was straight garbage last year any time I watched him he was gone by the 3rd

  31. I’ve been talking myself into Gallen this week. I think he could be a sneaky good signing given that all the other big $ FAs have some warts, too.

  32. Glad this isn’t true. I don’t see why the Cubs would want ANOTHER mid-rotation guy with declining strikeout numbers. They’ve got enough #3-5 pitchers to lean on, between Imanaga, Taillon, Assad, and Rea. Horton might end up settling in there too, but coudl go higher. Boyd’s their only starter who you can comfortably says pitches above that level, and he’s still an old pitcher with a long track record of injuries.

    Gallen is redundant on this team and doesn’t change its trajectory at all. If it’s a 1- or 2-year deal with a player option to provide space to shop Imanaga/Taillon during the season or withstand losing them during the payroll exodus after 2026, but I’d be holding back vomit if they handed him more than $60 million guaranteed.

Leave a Reply