Zac Gallen, Diamondbacks Reportedly Agree to New Contract, What FA Pitchers Are Still Available?

Following a difficult 2025 season for Zac Gallen, the Arizona Diamondbacks are hoping to get a big rebound year from him.

According to ESPN's Alden Gonzalez, the two sides have agreed to a one-year deal to keep Gallen and end his long free-agent waiting period. The contact is reportedly worth $22.025 million, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, representing the same total as the qualifying offer Gallen rejected earlier in the offseason.

It leaves few options remaining for teams still trying to upgrade their pitching staff before the start of the 2026 MLB season. However, players like Zack Littell, Lucas Giolito and Tyler Anderson could be serviceable options for teams in need. Max Scherzer is also still on the market at 41 years old.

Gallen was one of many unexpected problems for the Diamondbacks in a disappointing 2025.

Corbin Burnes underwent Tommy John surgery in June, ending his 2025 prematurely and leaving his status for next season up in the air.

The D-Backs turned the page to 2026 by trading Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suárez prior to the July 31 trade deadline.

Given the uncertainty around Burnes' return, keeping Gallen at least gives the Diamondbacks peace of mind knowing they have a pitcher who can take the ball every fifth day despite posting a career-worst 4.83 ERA last season.

Arizona already reunited with Merrill Kelly by signing him to a deal in free agency after dealing him to the Texas Rangers prior to the trade deadline last season. The club also brought in Michael Soroka as a depth piece.

The biggest concern was Gallen's home-run rate skyrocketed to a career-high 1.5 per nine innings after being under 1.0 in each of the previous three seasons.

Two things that do give Gallen value as a bounce-back candidate in 2026 are age and durability. He will pitch most of next season at the age of 30. He has started at least 28 games in each of the past four seasons.

The Diamondbacks will be hoping their coaching staff can turn things around for Gallen and get the pitcher who was a top-10 Cy Young candidate three times in four years from 2020 to '23.