Chicago vies with three other contenders for pitcher Zac Gallen. Talks are heating up, potentially adding a frontline arm before Spring Training begins.
The Chicago Cubs have been active in free agency for most of the offseason.
They revamped their bullpen earlier this winter by signing Phil Maton, Hoby Milner, Jacob Webb, and Hunter Harvey, and then made their big splash by agreeing to a five-year, $175 million deal with Alex Bregman.
But the Cubs might have room to make one more big free agent signing this offseason. That move could be signing former Arizona Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen to a multi-year contract.
The front office appears to be looking to add one more starting pitcher before Spring Training officially begins, and the Cubs have been linked to Gallen since before the start of the Winter Meetings in early December.
After all these months, Chicago is still in the running for the 30-year-old veteran. Even though the Cubs added Edward Cabrera via the trade market in early January, their interest in Gallen has remained the same.
The North Siders now appear to be a finalist for Gallen. MLB insider Bob Nightengale reported on Tuesday morning that the Cubs are one of four teams showing the most interest in the experienced right-hander.
“Talks are heating up for starter Zac Gallen, the best remaining free agent on the market,” Nightengale wrote. “Teams showing the most interest: San Diego Padres, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs, Arizona Diamondbacks.”
Time is definitely ticking for Gallen to make a decision. Cubs pitchers and catchers are expected to report by Wednesday, and Spring Training games officially start next week. If the veteran continues to drag out his free agency, the start of his season could be delayed.
Gallen probably hasn’t gotten the offer that he wants, which is why he remains a free agent this late in the offseason. He’s waiting for one of those teams above (Padres, Orioles, Cubs, and Diamondbacks) to bite and give him the contract that he wants.
While the Cubs are likely not going to commit to a long-term deal, there is a real chance they sign Gallen at this point in the offseason. The interest in him has been legit for the entire offseason, and the front office has been big proponents of the fact that there’s no such thing as having too many pitchers.
Cubs insider Bruce Levine also said last week that Gallen would be the team’s best pitcher by the middle of the season. That’s an interesting take, considering Gallen isn’t even on the team yet.
So, Levine might know that Chicago’s efforts for Gallen are truly legit.
If the Cubs do sign Gallen, they would have to forfeit one of their draft picks since the right-hander declined the $22.05 million qualifying offer from the Diamondbacks earlier this offseason.
With Spring Training beginning, Gallen’s free agent decision should be coming very soon. Talks are heating up, and the Cubs could be one of those teams to land the former All-Star pitcher.