FILE – Chicago Cubs starter Michael Soroka delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Aug. 4, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty, File) The Chicago Cubs have already changed their roster this offseason. They signed Alex Bregman and traded for Edward Cabrera. Now they are being linked to another starting pitcher, Zac Gallen.There is no deal yet. Reports only say that Chicago is one of the serious teams talking to him. The idea is a shorter contract instead of a long one. That would let the Cubs add a proven starter without tying themselves to him for many years.
What the contract could look like
Zac Gallen turned down a qualifying offer from the Arizona Diamondbacks. Because of that, any team that signs him would lose a high draft pick. That makes teams careful about offering a long contract.Instead, the expected structure is around three years for about $66-74 million. The key part would be an opt-out after the second season. If he pitches well, he could leave early and sign a bigger deal elsewhere. If he struggles, the Cubs are not locked in for a long time.The commonly discussed setup is: • Three years in length • Opt-out after Year 2 • No deferred salary • Slotting into the rotation as the No. 2 or No. 3 starterSigning him would cost Chicago a top draft pick, but it would also raise the level of the current staff.
How he would fit in the Chicago Cubs rotation
Arizona Diamondbacks’ Zac Gallen (Image via Getty)
Chicago Cubs already has Shota Imanaga at the top of the staff. Behind him are Cabrera, Matthew Boyd and Jameson Taillon, with Justin Steele expected back from injury.Adding Zac Gallen would give the team another experienced starter who has handled big workloads before. He would not have to carry the rotation by himself. Instead, he would be one of several capable arms.That kind of depth matters over a full season and in short playoff series.
Why the move helps the Chicago Cubs
Zac Gallen has finished in the top ten of Cy Young voting multiple times. Before 2025, he posted three straight seasons with ERAs of 3.65 or better. If he returns to that level, Chicago Cubs gets a front-line starter.He also gives the team protection. If one starter misses time or has a bad stretch, the rotation still has quality options. After adding Bregman and Cabrera, this type of signing would show that the team is focused on the next two seasons and expects to compete right away.
Why the move helps Gallen
Chicago offers a competitive team instead of a rebuild. That gives him a chance to pitch in meaningful games and chase a World Series run. A shorter deal with an opt-out also protects his future. If he stays healthy and effective, he can go back to free agency in his early 30s and look for a longer contract. He would also join a rotation with other strong starters, so the pressure would not fall on him alone.
What Arizona gains if he leaves
The Diamondbacks would lose an ace, but they would receive draft compensation because of the rejected qualifying offer. They would also avoid giving a long contract to a pitcher coming off his weakest recent season.
The upside of signing him
• Strong career numbers: 3.58 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, high strikeout rate • Experience pitching 200-inning seasons • Age still in his prime range • Better overall depth for the Cubs rotation
The risks involved
• His 2025 season was poor compared to his earlier years • Heavy past workloads can lead to durability issues • Chicago would give up a valuable draft pick • A salary in the low-20 million range per year could be expensive if he stays at mid-rotation level
Recent performance snapshot
Zac Gallen recent performance (2021-2025)
SeasonAgeIPERAFIPK/9BB/9WHIPNotes 2021 26 147 2.75 3.22 10.2 1.8 1.00 First full season; Cy Young top-10 2022 27 200 3.43 3.64 10.0 2.2 1.13 200-IP workhorse 2023 28 207 3.47 3.74 10.2 2.2 1.16 Another strong year 2024 29 193 3.65 3.89 10.1 2.4 1.19 Slight decline but still elite 2025 30 173 4.83 4.62 9.2 2.8 1.31 Down year; rough four months
How the 2026 rotation could look
Cubs’ projected rotation after Gallen (2026)
PitcherAge in 2026RoleRecent ERA (2025)Notes Shota Imanaga 27 No. 1 ~3.20 Elite control, ground-ball ace Zac Gallen 30 No. 2 4.83 Bounce-back candidate Edward Cabrera 27 No. 3 ~3.90 Power arm from trade Matthew Boyd 34 No. 4 ~3.80 Veteran lefty, steady innings Jameson Taillon 34 No. 5 ~4.10 Experienced back-end starter
Overall impact
If Gallen returns to his earlier form, the Chicago Cubs add another top starter without a long commitment. That could push them into the group of real contenders. If he stays at his 2025 level, he still helps but at a high price and with the added cost of a lost draft pick.Also read: MLB trade rumors: New York Mets predicted to sign $10.15 million Cy Young in a blockbuster deal with the Detroit Tigers ahead of deadlineThe move is a bet on a rebound. The contract length limits the long-term damage if it does not work out, but the short-term gain could be large if it does. For a team trying to win soon, that trade-off makes sense. And if it comes together, fans at Wrigley Field would see a rotation deep enough to match up with almost anyone.