PHOENIX, February 21, 2026 – Arizona Diamondbacks fans can breathe a sigh of relief: pitcher Zac Gallen is returning to the desert. The right-hander and the Diamondbacks are finalizing a one-year contract worth $22.025 million, according to reports, with approximately $14 million deferred. This deal matches the qualifying offer Gallen previously declined in November.
Gallen Returns on Familiar Terms
The pitcher heads back to Arizona after a season that didn’t quite meet expectations, but still showcases his value.
- Gallen’s one-year deal includes $14 million in deferred payments.
- The contract value mirrors the qualifying offer he rejected earlier this offseason.
- Arizona’s payroll is approaching franchise records with Gallen’s addition.
- Gallen has consistently been a reliable starter, topping 30 starts and 180 innings in three of the last four seasons.
Gallen, 30, didn’t quite replicate his previous success in 2025, leading to this one-year agreement despite a career filled with strong performances, including three top-10 finishes in National League Cy Young voting. He’ll be a key piece of the Diamondbacks’ rotation as they look to rebound from a disappointing 2025 season.
A Career Built on Consistency
Throughout his seven-year MLB career, Gallen has maintained a 119 ERA+ and a 3.65 FIP. He’s accumulated a WAR of 20.7, demonstrating his overall value to his teams. The Diamondbacks originally acquired Gallen from the Miami Marlins in July 2019, trading away Jazz Chisholm Jr. in the deal.
Prior to his return, estimates placed Arizona’s 2026 payroll at $173 million. Gallen’s addition will push the team’s financial commitments even higher, approaching the franchise record of $177 million set in 2024. The Diamondbacks won’t forfeit or gain any draft picks by re-signing their own qualified free agent.
Rotation Takes Shape in Arizona
Arizona previously brought back Merrill Kelly this offseason, and now boasts a rotation that includes Gallen, Kelly, Eduardo Rodriguez, Ryne Nelson, and Brandon Pfaadt. Corbin Burnes, acquired last offseason, is expected to return from Tommy John surgery mid-season, further bolstering the pitching staff.
The Diamondbacks finished the 2025 season with an 80-82 record, missing the postseason by just three games. They underwent a sell-off at the trade deadline, sending Kelly to the Texas Rangers and Eugenio Suárez to the Seattle Mariners, but ultimately retained Gallen.
Gallen was initially drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals and was part of a December 2017 trade that sent Marcell Ozuna to St. Louis, while Gallen and Sandy Alcantara went to the Marlins.
