Zac Gallen free agency isn’t going as planned and puts Cubs at a disadvantage

The Chicago Cubs have done a lot of the heavy lifting they needed to do this offseason with the signing of Alex Bregman and the trade for Edward Cabrera, but there are still holes that need to be filled. Chief among them is in the starting rotation, where Zac Gallen would be the perfect target.

Gallen's difficult 2025 campaign has cooled his market, but a strong finish to the season and a stellar track record prior to last year's hiccup make him a high-end hurler should he rebound in 2026.

The tough year is just one part of the equation of the challenges the 30-year-old faces. With the qualifying offer attached and the draft pick cost associated with signing him, he might have to settle for a one-year prove-it deal.

Getting a pitcher with his upside at a bargain would be the best possible outcome for the Cubs, but that's exactly why his landing in Chicago seems unlikely.

Zac Gallen's cool market will ironically make it hard for the Cubs to land the right-hander they covet

If a big payday and long-term financial security aren't on the table, then comfort in his new digs will shoot to the top of Gallen's list of priorities. To that end, his former team, the Arizona Diamondbacks, has to be considered the favorites.

Gallen himself has said that he has "chills" thinking about a return to the franchise where he came of age. There's a certain level of comfort a player has after playing in a particular place for so long, and at this late stage in free agency, there's an ease of knowing you don't need to pack up your life and get started in a new city.

On top of that, Arizona has a need. The Diamondbacks already re-signed Merrill Kelly, who they traded away at last year's trade deadline, and while he bolsters what was a weak rotation, he doesn't fill the hole at the top that formed as a result of Corbin Burnes' Tommy John surgery.

A vintage year from Gallen could give them exactly what they need, and on a one-year deal, Arizona would be his most comfortable landing spot as he looks to rebuild his value and re-enter the market in a stronger position next winter.

The Cubs can't offer that. The best they can do is pitch a clearer path to the postseason, as there is no Dodgers-like force to contend with in the NL Central.

Chicago isn't going to overpay, so even if they come in with an offer that's a few bucks higher, it won't be enough to overcome the hometown appeal the D'Backs can offer.

Better get used to the idea of lower-end pivots like Nick Martinez, because the chances of landing Gallen are slim, and at this point, Chicago needs competent rotation-depth over high-end talent anyway.