Zac Gallen is staying in the desert.
After months of free agency and some intrigue around where he might land, the veteran right-hander has agreed to a one-year deal to return to the Arizona Diamondbacks. The contract, pending a physical, is worth $22.025 million - the same figure as the qualifying offer he turned down back in November. But there’s a twist: over half of that money, roughly $14 million, will be deferred.
That deferral changes the financial math a bit. The net present value of the deal ends up lower than the original qualifying offer, which didn’t include any deferrals.
But here’s the key: by taking this one-year pact, Gallen sets himself up to re-enter free agency next offseason without the burden of draft-pick compensation attached. That’s a big deal for a player looking to maximize his value on the open market - and it could open more doors next winter.
There were multi-year offers on the table, according to reports, but Gallen chose familiarity over long-term security. And it’s not hard to see why.
Arizona has become home. “I think people understand what Phoenix means to me,” Gallen said earlier this month.
“My wife is from here. I’m calling this home base now.
So, for us to be here would be awesome.”
That sentiment clearly played a role in his decision to return - despite interest from other clubs, including the Orioles and Cubs. Baltimore, for instance, pivoted and signed Chris Bassitt to a one-year deal just days ago.
For Gallen, this marks his eighth season in Arizona. The D-backs acquired him from Miami during his rookie year in 2019, and he’s been a cornerstone of their rotation ever since. His 2023 campaign was a high point - an All-Star nod, a top finish in the NL Cy Young race, and a key role in leading Arizona to a National League pennant.
But 2025 was a different story. Gallen struggled through a down year, posting career-worst marks in ERA (4.83), FIP (4.50), WHIP (1.26), and strikeout rate (8.2 K/9).
Still, he was a workhorse - making 33 starts and logging over 180 innings for the third time in his career. That kind of durability still holds weight, especially in a league where reliable innings are harder and harder to come by.
Arizona’s rotation is shaping up to look familiar in 2026. Gallen is now the second longtime D-back to re-sign this winter, joining Merrill Kelly, who returned on a two-year deal after being traded to Texas last July. The team also added Michael Soroka on a one-year deal earlier in the offseason, adding depth behind their top arms.
For Gallen, this one-year reunion is both a bet on himself and a nod to the place he now calls home. He’ll look to bounce back from last season’s dip, reestablish his value, and potentially hit the market again next winter - this time with no strings attached.
Across 176 career starts, Gallen owns a 3.58 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 1,060 strikeouts. If he can return to the form that made him one of the league’s most dependable front-line starters, this deal could end up being a win-win - for both Gallen and the D-backs.