BREAKING MLB Signing: Zac Gallen Finally Lands Free Agent Deal

It's taken the entire offseason, and into the first days of pitchers & catchers at spring training. But the last remaining notable free agent, Zac Gallen, finally has his free agent deal. And he's headed back to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Zac Gallen to the Diamondbacks on a one-year contract. There are no option years. And there are no incentives in the contract.
— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) February 14, 2026

Steve Gilbert of mlb.com reported first on this Friday evening that the two sides were close to a deal, and further reports from others like Ken Rosenthal and John Gambadoro say a one-year deal is done. Jon Heyman reports it'll be worth $22 million, a 'prove it' deal for Gallen to show he can get back to being the Cy Young contender he was until before last season. Gambadoro says there are no further incentives in the contract.

Gallen accepts $22M one-year deal to return to Diamondbacks

The $22M number is notable, because that is the amount of the qualifying offer that Gallen turned down from the Diamondbacks after the season. Heyman adds that he had other, multiyear offers, but turned them down as he wanted to return to Arizona.

The Snakes tried to trade the pending free agent at the deadline at the end of last July, but because of the dreadful year he was having at the time (5.60 ERA at the end of July), they weren't getting any substantial offers.

He finished the year strong, however, with a 3.35 ERA the rest of the way, while holding batters to a .210 average over August and September. Those numbers are more in line with the Zac Gallen that was one of the most consistent aces in the game over the previous six seasons.

That bad first four months, however, cost him perhaps as much as $100 million on the free agent market.

In seven MLB seasons, he has compiled a 3.58 ERA with a 1.15 WHIP. He has a 9.5 K/9 to 2.9 BB/9 strikeout to walk ratio. He was an All-Star in 2023, and twice finished Top 5 in Cy Young balloting ('22 & '23).