Trade Profile: Zac Gallen, RHP

ZAC GALLEN, RHP

Position: SP B/T: R/R
Age: 29 (08/03/1995)
2025 Traditional Stats: 18 G, 18 GS, 104 IP, 6-9, 5.45 ERA, 1.365 WHIP, 98 SO, 42 BB
2025 Advanced Stats: 76 ERA+, 21.9% SO%, 9.4% BB%, 4.80 xERA, 4.97 FIP, 4.21 xFIP, -0.2 fWAR, 0.1 bWAR

RUNDOWN

Zac Gallen has been a consistent front-end starter throughout his time with the Arizona Diamondbacks. After being acquired from the Miami Marlins in July 2019, the right-hander has provided plenty of quality in Arizona’s rotation. Three top-10 finishes in NL Cy Young voting, one All-Star selection in 2023, his best season as a big leaguer. 17-9, a 3.47 ERA in a career-high 210 innings. Gallen played a massive role in the Diamondbacks’ improbable run to the World Series that year, eliminating the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies along the way.

This season has been a struggle for Gallen. Among qualified starters, Gallen’s 5.45 ERA is the worst in baseball. He’s third-worst in the league with 63 earned runs allowed. Gallen is giving up 8.7 hits per nine, 1.7 home runs per nine and 3.6 walks per nine. The first two put him on pace for the highest marks of his career. He is sitting at 8.5 strikeouts per nine. That would be his lowest ever mark.

Not much has changed in his pitch mix. Gallen continues to heavily use a four-seam fastball and a knuckle curve, along with mixing in a changeup, a slider and a cutter. The biggest difference from 2024 to 2025 is the effectiveness of his knuckle curve. Last season, opponents hit .148 with a .230 slugging percentage and an 85.5 MPH average exit velocity. A year later, all of those numbers have seen a drastic uptick. Opponents are hitting .220 with a .460 slugging percentage and a 91.9 MPH average exit velocity. His best off-speed pitch is being hit more often and hit much harder than it previously was. That is certainly playing a significant role in his disappointing season.

Zac Gallen, K'ing the Side in the 5th…and Sword. ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/j7IRxY3Day

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 2, 2025

While this season has been extremely disappointing for Gallen, he is coming off one of his best starts. Seven innings pitched, one earned run (two total) on five hits and 10 strikeouts against the San Francisco Giants on July 1. Could that be remembered as the turning point for Gallen? Throughout his career, his numbers have improved after the All-Star break. He owns a career 3.16 ERA in the second half (career 4.00 ERA in the first half).

Among the teams looking to compete in the National League, none are dealing with more significant injuries than the Diamondbacks. Corbin Burnes, their marquee free agent signing, is out for the season. Relievers Justin Martínez and A.J. Puk are both out for the season. A good portion of their top players are currently sidelined. That will be difficult to overcome, especially in a National League that is as deep as ever.

Despite being within striking distance of the third Wild Card spot, the Diamondbacks should and probably will be sellers at the trade deadline. They have pieces on expiring contracts that would garner plenty of interest from contending teams. With Gallen in the final year of his deal, expect him to be moved, more likely when Arizona decides to wave the white flag.

PACKAGE

As mentioned above, Gallen will be a free agent after the end of the 2025 season. While he isn’t performing at his best, pitching is in demand, which will likely drive up the price of acquiring him.

PROPOSED DEAL

METS RECEIVE

• Zac Gallen

DIAMONDBACKS RECEIVE

• OF Drew Gilbert (No. 6 prospect per MLB Pipeline)
• RHP Jack Wenninger (No. 27 prospect per MLB Pipeline)

RECOMMENDATION

Gallen is a very good starting pitcher who is having the worst season of his career. Could a change of scenery help him regain the form he has shown for most of his time in Arizona? Potentially. Even with Kodai Senga and Sean Manaea set to return at some point, it is paramount that the Mets add another starter ahead of the trade deadline. With Griffin Canning down for the year and other arms struggling, they need reinforcements in that area. Would the team prefer someone having a bit more success than Gallen? Of course. However, the price isn’t too steep, as the Mets have a plethora of pitching prospects, and Drew Gilbert has never quite found his footing in the Mets organization.

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