Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images
Key Points:
Zac Gallen’s Cy Young track record signals strong rebound value at a lower cost.
Cubs need a true ace after injuries exposed rotation depth late in the season.
Carson Kelly caught 55 Gallen starts with a 2.81 ERA together.
Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes
The 2025 season exposed significant depth issues in the Cubs’ pitching staff. Injuries to Justin Steele and Shota Imanaga early in the year derailed what had been a promising rotation outlook.
For a time, Matthew Boyd kept the Cubs afloat with a strong first half, and rookie standout Cade Horton stepped in as an impactful arm. But by September, Boyd was fading, and Horton suffered an injury that kept him out of Chicago’s playoff push.
While the current mix of arms, including Horton, Boyd, Imanaga, Taillon, and Rea, has potential, the Cubs still lack a bona fide frontline starter who can lead a staff deep into October, which is precisely where Gallen could immediately help.
More MLB Content From TWSN:
No, The Los Angeles Dodgers Aren’t Ruining Baseball
The Dream Free Agent Signing For Every MLB Team
Top 5 World Series Game 7s of All Time
There were legitimate whispers throughout last season that Gallen could be headed to Chicago, and even now his name remains at the top of the Cubs’ free agency wishlist if GM Jed Hoyer decides to pursue pitching via the open market rather than the trade route.
Despite a down year in 2025 with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Gallen’s overall body of work suggests his struggles were more of an aberration than a regression.
Between 2022 and 2024, he finished in the top five of National League Cy Young voting twice, averaging around 180 innings per season with a 3.20 ERA during that stretch. That kind of sustained excellence is rare and something the Cubs could build around.
Last season’s 4.83 ERA, even though it came over nearly 200 innings, is more reflective of bad luck and inconsistent defense behind him than a precipitous decline in skill. Because of that underwhelming stat line, Gallen will likely command less than some other top arms on the market, fitting perfectly with Chicago’s recent history of signing undervalued players with rebound potential.
Connection to the Chicago Cubs
There’s also a personal connection that adds fuel to the Gallen-to-Cubs narrative.
“…Do you know which big league catcher has caught more Zac Gallen starts than any other catcher in baseball? The Cubs’ own Carson Kelly. Kelly has caught 55 Zac Gallen starts in his career. And in those 55 starts, Gallen has a 2.81 ERA, while opposing batters are hitting just .202/.271/.337 (better than he has with any other catcher with whom he’s worked, min. 7 games).”
That sort of established rapport with a current Cub not only makes the transition smoother on the mound but also hints at how seamlessly Gallen could fit into Chicago’s clubhouse and pitching culture.
Final Thoughts
If the Cubs commit to signing Gallen, they would be adding a pitcher with frontline upside to a rotation that, as currently constructed, has untapped potential but lacks a true anchor.
The combination of Gallen’s history of success, a manageable free agent salary compared to some of his peers, and his proven performance with Carson Kelly behind the plate makes this one of the most compelling fit scenarios on the 2025 pitching market.
Related
Subscribe to the TWSN Newsletter for original reporting, bold opinions, and real analysis across NFL, NBA, UFC, College Football, and more.
Straight to your inbox. Always authentic.
Sign up now and never miss a moment.