Struggling with a ballooning ERA and career-worst regression, Zac Gallen faces an uncertain future with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Arizona Diamondbacks entered the season expecting to compete for a postseason spot.
While that goal remains alive, the margin for error has become increasingly thin.
Arizona currently sits at 39-39 and trails the Los Angeles Dodgers by 10.5 games in the National League West, making the Wild Card race the organization’s clearest path forward.
The Diamondbacks remain only 1.5 games out of a postseason spot.
To close that gap, changes may become necessary.
One area receiving the most attention is the starting rotation.
Conventional deadline thinking would suggest Arizona should look to add pitching.
But one proposed solution points in the opposite direction.
According to Jim Bowden from The Athletic, former ace Zac Gallen could emerge as a potential trade candidate amid a difficult season.
Bowden suggested that a change of scenery may help redirect Gallen’s career toward the form that once made him one of the National League’s premier starters and an All-Star Game starter.
“He’s had an up-and-down year for Arizona. However, a change of scenery might be just what the doctor ordered to try and turn his career back in the direction it was just three years ago, when he started the All-Star Game for the National League,” Bowden wrote.
A Surprising Turn of Events
The idea would still come as a surprise.
Gallen has been one of the defining pitchers of Arizona’s recent era and returned this offseason on a one-year contract worth $22.025 million.
Moving a player with that profile is never simple.
At the same time, the recent trend has raised difficult questions.
Over the last five seasons, Gallen’s results have steadily moved in the wrong direction.
His regression is evident. He posted a 2.54 ERA in 2022, followed by 3.47 in 2023, 3.65 in 2024, 4.83 in 2025, and now carries a 6.10 ERA in 79.2 innings across 16 starts this season.
His season value has also turned negative, with a -1.3 bWAR.
The most recent outing amplified concerns.
Gallen allowed nine runs on 12 hits with two strikeouts and two walks in four innings in a 16-8 home loss against the Minnesota Twins on Saturday.
That performance intensified speculation that Arizona may need to consider alternatives.
A trade would not be easy.
Gallen’s recent struggles combined with contract considerations could limit the market.
The Diamondbacks also face rotation concerns elsewhere.
Michael Soroka, Corbin Burnes, and Ryne Nelson are all unavailable because of injury.
That currently leaves Eduardo Rodríguez, Merrill Kelly, and Jose Cabrera as healthy rotation pieces.
Any move involving Gallen would almost certainly require Arizona to bring in another starter.
Still, if the organization concludes the current version is no longer working, moving him could become part of a broader effort to stabilize the roster.
Gallen’s Value
Beyond the difficult season, Gallen still possesses qualities that once made him such an important piece.
One of his biggest strengths is preparation.
He has built a reputation as a detail-oriented competitor.
Another defining trait is composure.
Even during difficult stretches, he rarely appears emotionally overwhelmed.
He also brings intelligence and adaptability that allow him to continue searching for adjustments.
Those qualities do not guarantee a turnaround.
They do help explain why some evaluators still believe another strong chapter remains possible.
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