"Zac Gallen is one of two unsigned players who declined a qualifying offer at the beginning of the offseason. The former All-Star righty is also arguably the second-best pitcher available behind Framber Valdez. It has nevertheless been a quiet winter in terms of rumors, and the odds of Gallen settling for a pillow contract are presumably rising as Spring Training approaches."
"Jon Heyman of The New York Post appeared on MLB Network this week and provided an update on the starter's market. Heyman listed the Cubs, Orioles and incumbent Diamondbacks as teams that remain in the mix. He added that the Angels and Padres have "checked in" this offseason as well but implied that the latter two teams are longer shots to get something done."
"The Diamondbacks made a two-year, $40MM investment to bring back Merrill Kelly and signed Michael Soroka to a one-year deal. They'd still have room in the rotation for Gallen, but GM Mike Hazen suggested recently that the Kelly contract limited their financial flexibility to sign an established late-inning reliever. That doesn't bode especially well for their chances of fitting Gallen in the budget unless owner Ken Kendrick makes an exception to bring back a player with whom he's familiar."
Zac Gallen declined a qualifying offer and remains one of the top unsigned starters, generally viewed as the second-best option behind Framber Valdez. Teams that have expressed interest include the Cubs, Orioles and Diamondbacks, with the Angels and Padres checking in as longer shots. Baltimore is more frequently connected to Valdez, making Gallen a fallback target if Valdez's cost exceeds their budget. Arizona's Merrill Kelly re-signing and Michael Soroka addition reduce payroll flexibility, complicating a Gallen signing. The Cubs strengthened via trade for Edward Cabrera and could offer rotation spots. Gallen would likely seek a short-term deal near the qualifying-offer value.
Read at MLB Trade Rumors
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