Diamondbacks Re-Sign Zac Gallen on One-Year, $22.025MM Deal

By accepting the same qualifying-offer money he turned down in November—but now spread over six seasons—Zac Gallen will return to the only organization he has known since 2019, giving the Arizona Diamondbacks rotation stability without a 2026 payroll spike.

Terms and Structure The contract, first reported by MLB.com’s Steve Gilbert and finalized by The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, guarantees Gallen $22.025MM, identical to the qualifying offer he rejected. Fourteen million of that sum will be deferred in five $2.8MM installments payable from 2031-35, leaving the club responsible for slightly more than $8MM this season. Because the deal is for one year, Gallen will re-enter the market next winter unencumbered by draft-pick compensation.

A Season That Changed the Market Once viewed as a potential nine-figure free agent after posting a 3.20 ERA from 2022-24, Gallen instead slogged through the worst statistical season of his career. He made every scheduled start—33 in all—but finished with a 4.83 ERA and a 21.5 percent strikeout rate, both career lows. The first half was particularly grim: a 5.40 ERA at the All-Star break and 5.60 at the July 31 trade deadline. Arizona ultimately held him, unwilling to accept a proposal that valued him less than the compensatory draft pick attached after he declined the QO.

Second-Half Rebound Following the deadline, Gallen recorded eight quality starts in 11 outings and posted a 3.32 ERA over his final 65 innings. The Diamondbacks went 7-4 in those games, keeping their Wild Card hopes alive until the season’s final weekend. Even so, the late surge was fueled partly by a .232 BABIP; his strikeout rate during the stretch was a modest 20 percent.

Stuff and Adjustments Velocity remained stable—his four-seam fastball averaged 93.5 mph—but opponents continued to square it up. Gallen leaned more on his change-up and knuckle-curve down the stretch while trimming fastball usage, a trend the club may extend into 2026. Statcast’s expected ERA (4.28) and SIERA (4.24) suggest his final line should have been closer to league average.

Roster Fit Gallen joins a rotation that now includes Merrill Kelly, Eduardo Rodriguez, Ryne Nelson and Brandon Pfaadt, with Michael Soroka potentially moving to long relief. Ace Corbin Burnes is targeting a post-All-Star-break return from Tommy John surgery, giving Arizona depth it lacked in December.

Payroll Implications Although the deal pushes the projected books to roughly $194MM—mirroring last year’s Opening Day figure—only about $8MM counts toward 2026 cash outlay. The club does not sacrifice any current draft picks, though it forfeits the compensatory selection it would have gained had Gallen signed elsewhere for $50MM or more.

Market Reality Multiple clubs reportedly offered Gallen multi-year security, but the right-hander, a Boras Corporation client, prioritized remaining in Arizona. By waiting until camps opened, he avoided the delayed-spring-training path that hampered Jordan Montgomery a year ago. Gallen will report early next week and is on track for Opening Day.

Next Steps If he rebounds to his 2022-24 form, Gallen could command the long-term payday that eluded him this winter. For now, both sides view the reunion as a low-risk, high-upside bridge that keeps the Diamondbacks competitive in a rugged NL West while preserving future flexibility.

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