The Arizona Diamondbacks arguably got a steal of a deal to re-sign starting pitcher Zac Gallen.
The Diamondbacks inked Gallen to a one-year deal after fending off other suitors for his services. According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the contract was for $22.025 million with $14 million deferred.
Gallen reportedly turned down “several multi-year offers” from other teams to return to Arizona, enabling him to test the market again next season.
The DBacks stayed patient and got a steal with Gallen fortifying their rotation. https://t.co/lNFcFJ6fxQ
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) February 14, 2026
Nightengale himself called the contract a “steal” for the Diamondbacks, who will likely get the best Gallen can offer in 2026. With Gallen fully motivated to showcase himself for his next big contract, the 30-year-old looks poised for a bounce-back year in Arizona.
The New Jersey native was a breakout performer for the D-Backs in 2022. Gallen had a 2.54 ERA with a league-best 0.91 WHIP, earning him a top-5 finish in Cy Young Award voting. He followed that up with his first All-Star appearance and a top-3 Cy Young finish in 2023.
Gallen, however, looked far from an ace last season, when he posted a 4.83 ERA across 33 starts. The decision to sign a one-year contract was a bet-on-himself move that could land him a big payday next offseason if he can prove to teams that he’s capable of anchoring a rotation.
