Zac Gallen’s free agency has taken a surprising turn this winter-and not in the way you might expect for a pitcher with his résumé. Just a few months ago, Gallen was still viewed as a potential front-line starter. But as the offseason rolls on, he’s yet to find a new home, and the reasons go beyond just his performance on the mound.
While fellow former Diamondbacks pitcher Merrill Kelly quickly landed back in Arizona on a two-year, $40 million deal after finishing the season with Texas, Gallen’s market has been far quieter. And according to one MLB executive, there’s a clear reason why: the qualifying offer.
That executive, speaking anonymously, labeled Gallen as “one of the least attractive” free agents this offseason among those who declined a qualifying offer. It’s a tough label, but when you dig into the details, it’s not hard to see why teams are hesitant.
Here’s the issue: Gallen turned down a qualifying offer that would’ve paid him $22.25 million in 2026. That decision now carries significant consequences. Any team that signs him will have to surrender draft pick compensation-an added cost that’s increasingly difficult for front offices to justify, especially for a player coming off a down year.
And make no mistake, 2025 was a rough one for Gallen. His 4.83 ERA marked the worst of his career, a far cry from the ace-level production he’s shown in the past.
While there were signs of life late in the season-he posted a 3.32 ERA over his final 11 starts-teams are clearly weighing the full picture. A shaky season paired with the loss of a draft pick?
That’s a tough sell.
It’s not that Gallen lacks talent. At 30, he still has the tools to be a mid-rotation starter or better, and his recent stretch of improved performance suggests there’s still something in the tank. But in today’s market, teams are increasingly wary of giving up future assets for players with question marks-especially pitchers coming off a season where consistency was hard to find.
If Gallen didn’t have the draft pick compensation attached to him, this winter might look very different. He’d likely have more suitors, and a deal might already be in place. But the qualifying offer has become a major obstacle, one that’s sidelining more than just his free agency hopes-it’s reshaping how teams approach players in this tier of the market.
Eventually, someone will take the plunge. Gallen will sign.
But for now, he’s stuck in a holding pattern, a talented arm caught in the crosshairs of a system that penalizes risk more than it rewards potential. And while calling him the “least attractive” free agent may sound harsh, it reflects a growing reality: in modern free agency, it’s not just about talent-it’s about value, timing, and the hidden costs that come with every signing.