In a strategic move, the Arizona Diamondbacks have successfully avoided arbitration with their talented right-handed pitcher, Zac Gallen, according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. The Boras Corporation client will command a salary of $10.011 million for the upcoming season, cementing his commitment to the team.
Gallen, at the age of 28, has firmly established himself as an ace-level pitcher, showcasing his prowess during two consecutive outstanding seasons.
His contributions played a pivotal role in the Diamondbacks’ unexpected journey to the World Series. While his ERA experienced a slight uptick to 4.54 during the postseason, he delivered an impressive 33 2/3 innings over six starts—a noteworthy workload, especially for a team with limited pitching depth.
In the 2023 season, he made an impressive 34 starts and accumulated 210 innings, boasting an earned run average (ERA) of 3.47. Gallen’s ability to strike out 26% of batters he faced, combined with a low walk rate of just 5.6%, and his knack for keeping 41.8% of balls in play on the ground, solidify his status as a top-tier pitcher.
Gallen’s baseball journey has been marked by a series of trades, initially a third-round pick by the Cardinals. Subsequently, he was part of a trade package that sent him to the Marlins in exchange for Marcell Ozuna. Later, he was traded again, this time to the Diamondbacks in return for Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Having entered arbitration for the first time in 2023, he played the previous season under a $5.6 million contract, and now he has entered the coveted eight-figure salary territory. Gallen is set to receive one more salary bump in 2025 before he ventures into free agency.