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Zac Gallen Agrees to One-Year Return to Diamondbacks at $22.025 Million, Pending Physical

The 30-year-old is betting on a rebound after a down 2025 that left teams wary due to qualifying-offer penalties.

Overview

  • The pact matches the qualifying offer he declined and includes about $14 million in deferred salary, according to multiple reports.
  • The agreement is pending a physical and had not been announced by the team at the time of reporting.
  • Coming off a career-worst 4.83 ERA and a career-low strikeout rate in 2025, he found a cooler market that favored short-term deals.
  • Some outlets report he turned down multiyear offers elsewhere and preferred to remain in Arizona, where he has established roots.
  • His return strengthens a rotation featuring Merrill Kelly, Eduardo Rodriguez, Brandon Pfaadt, Ryne Nelson and Michael Soroka, and removes one of the last notable starters from free agency.