Cubs Rumors: Zac Gallen connection grows stronger with insider's latest hint

If the Chicago Cubs have another major move up their sleeve before the start of spring training, chances are it will be a signing of Zac Gallen. After being mentioned as a potential suitor for Gallen in December, rumors of a potential signing have popped back up in recent weeks. Gallen's market appears to have stalled, and the Cubs could be looking to take advantage.

The Score Chicago's Bruce Levine has been all over the Cubs' connection with Gallen, suggesting that Jed Hoyer and Co. were having renewed talks with Scott Boras. Levine seemed to take the connection one step further on Tuesday when he was asked who is going to be the best starting pitcher in the team's rotation once Justin Steele returns from injury.

As the roster is currently constructed, the Cubs have no shortage of potential answers to that question. Cade Horton and Matthew Boyd are likely the two pitchers who first come to mind, but Levine had a different answer. Without hesitation, Levine said that Gallen would be the best pitcher on the Cubs' staff by the time Steele is back.

Zac Gallen to Cubs talk just got its strongest push yet

Levine also provided some insight into what a potential contract between Gallen and the Cubs would look like, noting that it could be a three-year deal with the former National League Cy Young Award finalists having an opt-out after the first or second year.

Given that it's Levine, it can't be ruled out that he is spinning his opinion with a matter-of-fact tone. That being said, the longer Gallen remains available, the better the Cubs' chances of signing him may be.

What complicates Gallen's free agency is that he declined the qualifying offer from the Arizona Diamondbacks, and it has come at a time when his stuff has trended in the wrong direction. Even if the Cubs believe they can fix Gallen and the 4.83 ERA he posted last year, there's a significant amount of financial risk in taking that gamble. Especially when the Cubs would also be parting with draft pick compensation and international bonus pool money.

It's why, if the Cubs were to sign Gallen, it's important that an opt-out is after the second year of a contract. That way, on the chance that they do fix the 30-year-old, they have some semblance of stability for 2027, considering Boyd, Jameson Taillon, and Shota Imanaga are free agents next offseason.