The Chicago Cubs missed out on Japanese pitcher Tatsuya Imai, as the 27-year-old signed a three-year, $63 million contract with the Houston Astros on New Year’s Day.
So what’s next?
The Cubs could still afford to add a frontline starter to a deep rotation in need of a true ace, but the problem is that the free-agent market for starting pitchers is rather thin. Framber Valdez and Ranger Suarez will probably be too expensive for what they provide, and once you get past those two, there is a significant dropoff.
Or is there?
Mark Feinsand of MLB.com has identified the next potential move for Chicago after failing to land Imai, and it’s for a pitcher with a pretty fine pedigree: Zac Gallen.
“Zac Gallen might be a better fit if the Cubs are intent on adding to the rotation, while Lucas Giolito, Chris Bassitt and Zack Littell also remain available in free agency,” Feinsand wrote.
ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel projected Gallen to land a four-year, $76 million contract in his free-agent predictions earlier this offseason.
Is Zac Gallen worth the risk for the Chicago Cubs?
Arizona Diamondbacks Zac Gallen (23) pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies during their NLCS game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Oct. 16, 2023.
At his peak, Gallen has been one of the best pitchers in baseball.
The right-hander finished fifth in NL Cy Young award voting in 2022 after logging a 2.54 ERA while allowing just 121 hits and registering 192 strikeouts over 184 innings of work, pacing the National League with a sparkling 0.913 WHIP.
Gallen then placed third in Cy Young voting the following year after pitching to the tune of a 3.47 ERA, racking up 220 punchouts across 210 frames.
The problem is that the last couple of seasons, the 30-year-old has exhibited significant signs of decline, particularly in 2025 when he posted an alarming 4.83 ERA to go along with a 1.260 WHIP.
While Gallen’s velocity is still there, he has suddenly begun experiencing control issues, as evidenced by the fact that his K/BB ratio dipped to 2.65 this past season.
It’s not like Gallen is ancient, though. He doesn’t turn 31 until August, and his stuff hasn’t demonstrated any type of major dropoff. So perhaps whatever has been ailing Gallen since the last two years (more specifically in 2025) is fixable.
The Cubs already have a fine rotation headlined by Shota Imanaga and Justin Steele, but they are in need of a true ace. Does Gallen still represent that at this point of his career? Unless Chicago wants to pursue a trade for a starter, it may not have much of a choice.
And if Gallen is really only going to be landing $19 million annually in free agency, he may be worth the plunge, and he may not even get that much based on the deal Imai just received.
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