Two Elite Teams Named As Top Suitors For Pending Free Agent Zac Gallen

The NY Yankees & Mets have been named as 2 top suitors for Zac Gallen who will be one of the top pitchers on the free agent market this coming winter.

Zac Gallen will be one of the top pitchers on the free agent market this coming winter. So far, his contract season has been off to an up-and-down start, with three gems mixed with three rough outings and a couple of middling ones.

But it was against whom that trio of ace-like start occurred that has led speculation to emerge about which teams will be top suitors for the seven-year veteran and two-time Top-5 Cy Young finisher.

Per Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Gallen's 13-strikeout performance in Yankee Stadium in April and his now back-to-back wins against the NY Mets, would certainly leave an impression on the two clubs, who, of course, are always at the top of the big-spenders list in free agency when a big-time player like this comes along.

While Gallen has a 4.37 ERA and a 3-4 mark on the season thus far, he is 3-0 with a 0.92 ERA against the Mets & Yankees.

Arizona Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen faced New York teams for third third and final time this regular season.
No offense, but the Mets and Yankees have seen enough of him.
3-0*(if D-backs' 5-1 lead stands after 7 innings)
0.92 ERA.
7 hits
27 strikeouts
19.2 innings
Yes, and…
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) May 7, 2025

Nightengale already told us last month that the Yankees front office is "drooling" over the prospect of being able to sign Gallen in free agency next winter.

“Gallen... loves life back East, growing up in the Philadelphia area,” Nightengale wrote.

That same logic would work for the Mets as well, of course. Gallen is now 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA against the NL East leaders this season.

There will undoubtedly be other suitors as well for the former All-Star, but the New York teams will certainly be frontrunners. As for Arizona, where he's spent his entire 7-year career, save for half a season as a rookie in Miami, it's unlikely they'll be able to retain him.

“The Diamondbacks would love to have him back," wrote Nightengale, "but it’s unrealistic to believe they can afford two $200 million pitchers on their staff with Corbin Burnes signing a six-year, $210 million contract last winter."

In his career, Gallen is 56-41 with a 3.35 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP, with a 9.8 K/9 vs 2.9 BB/9.