Why Zac Gallen Makes Sense for the Giants' Rotation Plans
The San Francisco Giants need pitching help-plain and simple. Logan Webb can’t carry the rotation alone, and if the front office wants to stay competitive in a loaded NL West, they’ll need to find a reliable arm to slot in behind him.
While dreams of landing Japanese ace Tatsuya Imai are still floating around, recent reports suggest the Giants may be leaning toward a more financially flexible approach. That’s where Zac Gallen enters the conversation.
Now, Gallen might not be the flashiest name on the market this offseason, but he might be one of the most intriguing. He turned down a qualifying offer, which raised some eyebrows, but in today’s shifting CBA landscape, it’s not hard to see why.
Players are looking for long-term security, and Gallen is no different. The interesting part?
That long-term deal might come at a relative discount.
Let’s not sugarcoat it-2025 was a rough year for Gallen. Statistically, it was the worst of his career: a 4.83 ERA, 103 earned runs allowed, 66 walks, 31 home runs surrendered, and a 1.26 WHIP.
That’s a lot of red flags for a guy who’s typically been a rock in the Diamondbacks’ rotation. His command wavered, and when he missed, he missed big-leading to a lot of hard contact.
But here’s the thing: one down year doesn’t erase who Zac Gallen has been. From 2022 through 2024, he posted ERAs of 2.54, 3.47, and 3.65-numbers that put him firmly in the upper tier of National League starters.
His FIP during that stretch backed up the surface stats, showing he wasn’t just getting lucky-he was pitching at a legitimately high level. That’s the version of Gallen the Giants would be betting on, and there’s reason to believe that version still exists.
Inside the Diamondbacks’ clubhouse, there was never a loss of faith. Manager Torey Lovullo consistently backed Gallen, even when the numbers weren’t pretty.
And in the final two months of the season, that faith started to pay off. Gallen made a key adjustment-leaning more heavily on his two-seam fastball-and the results were immediate.
From August through the end of the season, Gallen posted a 3.32 ERA, 3.34 FIP, and a 1.08 WHIP. He found his command again, missed more bats, and looked like the pitcher Arizona had come to depend on. That two-seamer didn’t just give him another weapon-it opened up a new part of the strike zone and helped him keep hitters off balance.
“I think the one thing that has really pushed him to the next level is a two-seam fastball,” Lovullo said in September. “That’s opened up a whole new avenue of the strike zone for him. He’s gone out there and really, really executed at a very high level.”
That late-season resurgence is exactly why a team like the Giants should be interested. Gallen’s 2025 numbers might scare off some clubs, but for those paying attention, the signs of a bounce-back are already in motion.
And if he were to land in San Francisco, he’d be pitching in one of the most forgiving ballparks for pitchers in the league. Oracle Park suppresses home runs, rewards command, and gives fly ball pitchers a fighting chance.
That’s a perfect fit for a guy who struggled with long balls this past season.
Plus, he’d have a solid defense behind him and a staff that knows how to get the most out of its arms. There’s a lot to like about the potential pairing.
And then there’s the contract. According to Spotrac, Gallen is projected to land a four-year deal worth around $79.4 million.
That’s a far cry from the nine-figure deals that top-tier international arms like Imai are expected to command. For the Giants, who’ve been cautious with spending in recent offseasons, this could be the sweet spot-adding a high-upside starter without blowing up the payroll.
Gallen wouldn’t have to be the ace in San Francisco. With Webb entrenched at the top, Gallen could slide into the No. 2 or No. 3 role and take pressure off himself while still playing a major part in stabilizing the rotation. If he returns to form-and there’s good reason to believe he will-this could be one of the smarter value signings of the winter.
The Giants need arms. Gallen needs a fresh start. The fit just makes sense.