The starting pitching market is finally starting to take shape after a slow-moving offseason. With names like Dylan Cease, Ranger Suarez, Tatsuya Imai, and Michael King already off the board, and trades involving Edward Cabrera, Shane Baz, and Mike Burrows shaking things up, front offices are beginning to show their hands. One of the more under-the-radar moves came when the Brewers dealt Freddy Peralta to the Mets - a trade that could set off a domino effect, particularly for a team like the Los Angeles Angels, who are still searching for rotation help.
With most of the top arms now spoken for, two big names remain: Framber Valdez and Zac Gallen. Valdez came into the offseason with the reputation of being the top free-agent starter available.
A proven postseason performer with a heavy sinker and big-game experience, Valdez had plenty of appeal on paper. But there’s been some hesitation around the league, reportedly tied to character concerns that emerged during his final season in Houston.
That’s not the kind of red flag teams ignore, especially when they’re weighing a long-term investment.
The Mets were seen as one of Valdez’s top suitors - until they pivoted and traded for Peralta instead. That move might clear the path for the Orioles, who have been in the market for rotation upgrades and now appear to be the most logical landing spot for the 32-year-old lefty.
That brings us to Zac Gallen, the other marquee name still unsigned - and his situation is a bit more complicated.
Just a year ago, Gallen was in the thick of the National League Cy Young race. Now?
He’s coming off a season that raised more than a few eyebrows. A 4.83 ERA over 33 starts isn’t what teams are looking for in a frontline starter, and his strikeout numbers took a noticeable dip.
That kind of regression doesn’t go unnoticed, especially in a market where teams are increasingly wary of paying for past performance.
Dig a little deeper, and the root of Gallen’s struggles becomes clearer: his fastball just hasn’t been the same. It’s lost some of its edge, and without that foundational pitch working at a high level, the rest of his arsenal has suffered.
That’s not to say he can’t bounce back - he’s still got the tools - but it’s going to take some adjustments. Right now, Gallen looks more like a project than a plug-and-play ace, and that’s made teams cautious.
There’s also the matter of draft-pick compensation. Gallen turned down a qualifying offer from the Diamondbacks, which means any team that signs him will have to forfeit a draft pick and international bonus pool money. That’s a steep price to pay for a pitcher who’s coming off a down year and might need a mechanical overhaul to get back to form.
Given all that, Gallen’s market has cooled considerably. He may have no choice but to settle for a short-term deal, likely with opt-outs - a classic Scott Boras strategy that gives his client a chance to rebuild value and test the market again soon.
The Angels, still sitting on some financial flexibility and eager to upgrade their rotation, could be a natural fit. They’ve shown a willingness to take chances on pitchers with upside, and Gallen, despite the recent dip, still has the kind of ceiling that’s hard to ignore.
The question is whether the Angels are ready to bet on a bounce-back - and whether they’re comfortable with the opt-out structure Boras is likely to demand. But with the market thinning fast and the options dwindling, Gallen might just be the best swing left to take.