The Chicago Cubs have a very solid starting rotation, but they could certainly use another arm. This is why the Cubs have been tabbed as frontrunners for Tatsuya Imai and have also been connected to trades for Miami Marlins pitchers Sandy Alcantara and Edward Cabrera.
But could Chicago pull off a surprising move that no one saw coming?
Rich Eberwein of Cubbies Crib thinks so, linking the Cubs to former Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen in free agency.
“A lot of people are wary of throwing money at Zac Gallen after his 2025 season, where he posted a 4.83 ERA. However, this came after three straight years of being a frontline starter for the Arizona Diamondbacks,” Eberwein wrote. “Gallen also made up for the high ERA with 175 strikeouts and 192 innings pitched. He was one of nine starting pitchers in MLB to surpass 190 innings last year.”
Gallen’s market has been moving at a snail’s pace, but you have to figure it will pick up soon, perhaps once bigger names like Imai, Framber Valdez and Ranger Suarez are off the board.
Would Zac Gallen be a good fit for the Chicago Cubs?
Sep 3, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen (23) throws against the Texas Rangers in the first inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
Gallen had a tough year in 2025. It wasn’t like he was unlucky, either. He posted a 4.50 ERA, and his 2.65 K/BB ratio was the worst mark of his big-league career.
But perhaps the right-hander could comprise a potential bounce-back candidate for 2026?
Gallen is only 30 years old, so it’s not like he is ancient and falling off a cliff. Plus, his fastball velocity was still there in 2025, and he is just three seasons removed from finishing third in NL Cy Young award voting when he pitched to the tune of a 3.47 ERA while allowing 188 hits and racking up 220 strikeouts over 210 innings of work in 2023.
Gallen suddenly experienced an uptick in control issues the last couple of seasons, but that is almost surely fixable. This is a hurler who registered a 2.54 ERA and 0.913 WHIP back in 2022, so we know the stuff is there.
Zac Gallen’s price tag could be the only issue
Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Zac Gallen (23) pitches against the Cleveland Guardians at Chase Field on Aug. 19, 2025.
The University of North Carolina product has also been very durable, making over 30 starts in three of his past four seasons. Given all of the injuries the Cubs experienced in their starting rotation in 2025, they could certainly use that reliability.
The issue with Gallen is his price tag, which is probably rather high at the moment. And keep in mind: he is a Scott Boras client.
But if Gallen’s price dips, look for Chicago to make a play for him … assuming the Cubs didn’t add any other starting pitchers before then.
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