Zac Gallen’s free agency is shaping up to be one of the more intriguing storylines as spring training gets underway, and the Chicago Cubs are right in the thick of it. On paper, Gallen checks every box for what the Cubs could use to round out an already strong offseason: a veteran right-hander with a proven track record, durability, and the kind of poise that fits well in a contending rotation.
While his overall numbers from last season may not jump off the page, it’s worth noting that most of the turbulence came in the first half. Once he found his rhythm, Gallen looked more like the two-time Cy Young finalist we've come to expect.
From the Cubs’ perspective, the ideal scenario would be locking Gallen into a deal that gives them some control-perhaps with an opt-out that doesn’t kick in until after a few seasons. That’s likely a key point in ongoing negotiations. But now, there’s a new wrinkle: the Atlanta Braves just entered the chat.
The Braves were dealt a tough blow as spring camps open, placing 25-year-old righty Spencer Schwellenbach on the 60-day injured list. Schwellenbach, who made his MLB debut in 2024, had quietly become a key piece of Atlanta’s rotation, posting a 3.09 ERA over 110.2 innings last season.
Unfortunately, a fractured elbow cost him a chunk of that campaign, and now a setback to that same elbow threatens to sideline him for a significant portion of 2026. Braves manager Walt Weiss didn’t offer a timeline for return, and that uncertainty may force Atlanta to act quickly to shore up their rotation.
Enter Gallen.
With Schwellenbach out, the Braves suddenly find themselves in the market for a top-tier starter, and Gallen fits that mold. There are hurdles, of course.
Gallen received a qualifying offer this offseason, which means any team signing him-outside of his previous club-would need to forfeit a draft pick and international bonus pool money. That’s never an easy pill to swallow, especially for a team that values homegrown talent as much as Atlanta does.
But urgency has a way of changing priorities. The Braves have a history of making swift, decisive moves when needs arise, and Gallen’s availability might be too tempting to pass up, even if he insists on a short-term deal with a one-year opt-out.
At 30, Gallen is still young enough to bet on himself, rebuild his value, and hit the open market again next winter. For a contending team like Atlanta, even one year of Gallen could be worth the draft pick cost.
That potential Braves pivot complicates things for the Cubs.
Chicago has been linked to Gallen for weeks, and that buzz hasn’t died down. Local insiders continue to connect the dots, and national voices like USA Today’s Bob Nightengale have consistently listed the Cubs among the most serious suitors. There’s a clear mutual fit: Gallen would bring playoff experience, a steady presence, and frontline talent to a Cubs rotation that’s already taken strides forward this winter.
But the Diamondbacks still loom large in this picture. Arizona wouldn’t face the same draft pick penalty for re-signing Gallen, and that gives them a built-in advantage if the right-hander is open to a short-term reunion before testing the market again. If Gallen is leaning toward a one-year deal to reset his value, the D-backs might be the path of least resistance.
Now, with Atlanta potentially entering the fray, the Cubs may find themselves caught in a three-way tug-of-war. The Braves have the need.
The Diamondbacks have the leverage. And the Cubs?
They still have the interest-but they may need to act fast if they want to land one of the most intriguing arms still on the board heading into 2026.