Former Diamondbacks ace starting pitcher remains available! Gallen eager to return to Phoenix

As the MLB spring training approaches, several elite players on the free agent market are still unsigned, and former Arizona Diamondbacks ace righty Zac Gallen is among them. On February 4th, he attended the PGA Tour Phoenix Open and expressed in an interview that it "would be great" to come back to the Diamondbacks.

Now 30 years old, Gallen was selected as an All-Star in 2023. Although pitchers and catchers report for spring training next week, he has yet to find a new team, which understandably causes some anxiety. Throughout the offseason, Gallen’s market status remained uncertain, partly because he declined the Diamondbacks’ qualifying offer of $20.025 million. If he signs elsewhere, the Diamondbacks would receive draft pick compensation, and the signing team would have to pay a price.

Therefore, the ideal outcome for Gallen might be a return to his former team. He stated, "It’s taught me humility. That’s been the case for the past few weeks; many people have told me, 'We really want you back.' I think everyone understands what Phoenix means to me—my wife is from here, and now I consider this my home as well. So for us, staying here would be wonderful."

Originally from New Jersey, Gallen was acquired by the Diamondbacks from the Miami Marlins in July 2019 in a trade involving Jazz Chisholm Jr., and he subsequently developed into the team’s ace. In 2022, he posted an impressive 12-4 record with a 2.54 ERA; the following year, he earned his first All-Star selection with a 17-9 record and a 3.47 ERA. However, last season Gallen experienced some inconsistency, finishing with a 13-15 record and a 4.83 ERA.