The Zac Gallen-to-Chicago rumor mill is spinning again-and this time, it might have some real traction.
After a December report suggested the Cubs were close to landing the former NL Cy Young finalist, things went quiet. Understandably so.
Chicago’s offseason has been anything but subtle. They've brought in Edward Cabrera via trade and made a splashy move to sign Alex Bregman.
Those additions raised eyebrows-not just for the talent, but for what they signaled: the Cubs are going for it.
Still, with Cabrera in the fold and a rotation that already includes Matthew Boyd, Cade Horton, Jameson Taillon, and new signee Shota Imanaga-not to mention Justin Steele working his way back and a handful of depth arms like Colin Rea, Ben Brown, Javier Assad, and Jordan Wicks-there’s a fair question to ask: where would Zac Gallen even fit?
But here’s the thing: when you have a chance to add a frontline starter, you don’t pass it up just because your depth chart looks full in January. And according to recent reports, the Cubs are back in talks with Scott Boras, Gallen’s agent, discussing what appears to be a short-term deal.
That’s a key detail. A shorter commitment could make the fit more palatable for both sides, especially for a Cubs team that’s already projecting to push into the luxury tax.
Make no mistake-if Gallen comes aboard, he’s not here to be a safety net. He’s in the rotation, no question.
And while the Cubs have arms, they don’t have many with Gallen’s track record. He’s the kind of pitcher who can change the tone of a postseason series.
That’s the kind of depth that doesn’t just get you to October-it helps you survive it.
The market dynamics are shifting quickly, too. Freddy Peralta’s been shipped to the Mets.
MacKenzie Gore is headed to Texas. Ranger Suárez has landed in Boston.
And Baltimore seems poised to land either Framber Valdez or Justin Verlander. That’s a lot of chairs being filled in a game of musical starters.
Gallen’s list of suitors is shrinking, and the Cubs might be in the perfect position to pounce without having to outbid the field.
Yes, adding Gallen would create some roster tension. Someone’s going to get squeezed.
But that’s a good problem to have. Injuries happen.
Young arms hit innings limits. And come October, you can never have too much pitching.
The Cubs are clearly acting like a team with postseason aspirations-and maybe more. If Gallen falls into their lap, it could be one of the final pieces that turns those aspirations into something real.