Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen has been one of the most consistent pitchers in the league for the last few seasons. But he struggled a bit this year. Still, he entered free agency this winter with the expectation that he’d sign a massive contract.
On Saturday, there were a lot of conflicting reports that indicated Gallen was going to sign a deal with the Chicago Cubs, but they didn’t come to fruition. The star pitcher remains on the market, and a different National League club could scoop him up in free agency.
Jim Bowden of The Athletic recently predicted Gallen would sign a big five-year deal with the Atlanta Braves worth $135 million this winter.
“Once Gallen joins the Braves, their pitching room immediately makes adjustments with his mechanics and gets him back on track,” Bowden wrote.
The Cubs could still make a real run at Gallen. They make a lot of sense as a landing spot, and it clearly seems like they have a lot of interest in adding him.
But the Braves could make a lot of sense, too. They need to add to their pitching staff if they want to compete in the long 162-game season. Adding a consistent star like Gallen would be the exact kind of move the Braves need. Gallen’s best ability is his availability, which has been a major flaw for the Braves’ pitching staff over the last few seasons.
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