The Chicago Cubs are either actually still serious about adding another legit starting pitching option to the mix heading into spring training or they’re being used in the media to prop up one of Scott Boras’ clients. Maybe it’s a little of both because the Cubs continue to come up in rumors dealing with previous Cy Young contender Zac Gallen.
The 30-year-old starter is coming off a brutal 2025 campaign with the Arizona Diamondbacks and it could not come at a worse time for Gallen. Hoping to cash in with a free agent contract, Gallen remains unsigned as his value has obviously taken a hit after a few years of decline, but he has the qualifying offer attached to him as well.
Cubs fans have been debating whether it makes sense to even pursue Gallen given the team’s lengthy list of available starting pitchers already in the organization. Yet, there are valid concerns in the short term based on previous health and performance for several arms in the rotation, while also the possibility of losing a handful of veteran starters following the 2026 season.
According to Jon Heyman, the Cubs remain involved in the Gallen talks. The national insider also mentioned Gallen’s former team, the Diamondbacks, as well as the Baltimore Orioles, who could certainly use another pitcher for their starting rotation.
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At minimum, you’d have to believe that the Cubs have a plan in place to fix whatever went wrong with Gallen last season and maybe more importantly, if they still are considering signing Gallen, then they’re not dumb enough to only have him around for one season and then see him walk. That would obviously be Gallen’s best-case scenario, signing a deal that let’s him opt out after one year if he’s able to recapture his previous form that re-establishes his value and allows him to hit free agency right after.
So, if the Cubs do have serious talks with Gallen and sign him you have to think he’ll be with the team for a minimum two years. Maybe it’s a three or four year contract that has an opt out after years two and three and maybe the Cubs add options of their own that can benefit Gallen in the future if he gets back on track.
You may think you have plenty of pitching, but as we saw last year injuries happen all the time, guys regress and then you get stuck at the trade deadline not wanting to overpay for another starter. I won’t be upset if the Cubs lose out on Gallen and frankly I won’t be overly optimistic about him either, but he’s still only 30-years-old and he’s not too far removed from finishing top-5 in NL Cy Young voting, which Gallen did in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
Gallen can provide decent upside in the rotation and I still think back to last summer, when the Cubs obviously needed to trade for an impact pitcher and they didn’t. You look around the league and you’ll notice that most contenders shied away from paying premium prices for pitching.
So, if the Cubs can get a durable guy like Gallen now, then they should. At this point it’s doubtful that Gallen will get a wild contract and the luxury tax isn’t and shouldn’t prohibit the Cubs from adding more talent.
