Free Agent Profile: Zac Gallen SP

ZAC GALLEN, SP

Position: SP B/T: R/R
Age: 30 (08/03/1995)
2025 Traditional Stats: 13-15, 4.83 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 192 IP, 175 SO, 66 BB, 33G
2025 Advanced Stats: 89 ERA+, 21.5% K%, 8.1% B%, 4.39 xERA, 4.50 FIP, 4.12 xFIP, 1.1 fWAR, 1.1 bWAR

RUNDOWN

Zac Gallen turned in his highest inning total as a professional in 2025 at 192 innings pitched, but the results were worse than anyone would have liked. His 4.83 ERA and 4.50 FIP represented significant regression from previous seasons. More concerning than the surface numbers was what happened beneath them.

According to Baseball Savant, Gallen’s release point shifted from 41 degrees in 2024 to 42 degrees in 2025. As a result, this affected his release points and may have affected his arsenal overall. His four-seam fastball comprises 45.1% of his pitch mix. Notably, it changed from a 1:00 axis to a 0:45 axis, leading to less horizontal break. Consequently, this meant more fastballs ended in the zone in 2025. While Gallen has above-average iBV, he doesn’t have elite velocity or spin. Ultimately, that led to his fastball getting hit hard to the tune of a .413 SLG.

Put simply, batters did not chase or whiff on the fastball. Furthermore, when your primary pitch is in the zone more and generating fewer whiffs, you fight an uphill battle.

On the positive side, Gallen did get plus chase (43.1%) and plus whiff (38.9%) on his knuckle curve. Nevertheless, he left it in the zone significantly more than in 2024. As a result, this led batters to SLG .438 against that pitch. Meanwhile, his changeup was by far his most effective pitch, but he only threw it 16% of the time.

Overall, Gallen’s barrel rate skyrocketed from 7.4% to 9.7%, his strikeout rate worsened, his ground ball rate worsened, and he gave up more hard contact. Ultimately, these factors led to an almost double home run rate and his 4.83 ERA.

Entering free agency, he may look to sign a short-term deal and have a bounce-back season if he cannot secure a long-term deal. Then he can capitalize on it in next year’s free agency.

Following his last start, Gallen reflected on his time in a Diamondback uniform. He said in his post game interview “This year didn’t go that way I envisioned for myself” and then added, “every fifth day I put the uniform on I was honored, I was proud to put the uniform on, but I went out there every fifth day and tried to give those guys everything I had but obviously this year wasn’t enough”.

CONTRACT

MLB Trade Rumors predicts a four-year, $80 million deal for Gallen. Additionally, this website rates him the 6th best starting pitcher on the market between Michael King and Brandon Woodruff. Notably, this marks Gallen’s first time hitting free agency.

Currently, Gallen has the qualifying offer attached to him. Therefore, any team signing him will lose draft picks and international signing money. Gallen will likely reject the qualifying offer.

RECOMMENDATION: STAY AWAY

Gallen would have led the Mets with 192 innings pitched. However, entering his age-30 season, he likely profiles more as a mid-rotation to backend starter. He is likely not the frontline starter the Mets are expected to be looking for. Furthermore, the type of role Gallen would fill is likely better suited to the arms in their farm system. In the end, he is not the type of player they are likely to give up the qualifying offer penalties for.

The post Free Agent Profile: Zac Gallen SP appeared first on Metsmerized Online.