Zac Gallen remains one of the last big names on the free-agent board, and as of Tuesday, he still hadn’t signed with a new team. While the expectation is that the Arizona Diamondbacks will lose the right-hander, the market hasn’t quite delivered that final move just yet.
At this stage in the offseason, Gallen isn’t just the top pitcher available-he’s arguably the best overall player left on the market. That’s no small feat for a guy who’s coming off multiple seasons as a frontline starter and has shown he can anchor a rotation. The question now isn’t whether he’ll sign-it’s where, and for how long.
One potential landing spot that’s starting to gain traction is Anaheim. The Los Angeles Angels have been lurking in the pitching market all winter, and while some of their moves have felt more like missed opportunities than game-changers, Gallen could be the exception. This wouldn’t be a flashy, headline-grabbing blockbuster-but it could be exactly the kind of smart, stabilizing move the Angels need.
There’s also the financial angle. The Angels opened up nearly $40 million in payroll flexibility for 2026 after restructuring the final year of Anthony Rendon’s contract.
So far, they haven’t done much with that space, but Gallen would be a logical way to put it to work. They were reportedly in the mix for Framber Valdez before he landed with the Tigers, which shows they’re still shopping for top-tier arms.
Gallen fits that mold-and then some.
From a baseball standpoint, the fit makes a lot of sense. The Angels need another top-of-the-rotation arm, and Gallen brings exactly that.
He’s not just a guy who eats innings-he gives you quality starts, competes every fifth day, and has the kind of command and poise that plays in any ballpark. Slotting him near the top of the rotation would immediately raise the floor of this pitching staff, and give the Angels a more credible shot at staying in the mix in a tough AL West.
Now, is this the move that turns the Angels into a World Series contender overnight? Probably not.
But it’s the kind of foundational signing that starts to push a team in the right direction. If they can get Gallen on a two- or three-year deal, it’s a calculated swing worth taking.
He’s still in his prime, he’s proven he can handle big moments, and he’d bring a much-needed presence to a rotation that’s lacked consistency for years.
Bottom line: Gallen won’t be on the market for much longer. And if the Angels are serious about building a more competitive roster, this is exactly the kind of move they need to make.