Major League Baseball’s offseason is winding down, with just 12 days left before pitchers and catchers report to their spring training sites in Florida and Arizona. However, teams still have work to do, as several prominent free agents, including All-Star starting pitchers Framber Valdez and Zac Gallen, have yet to finalize new contracts. CBS Sports has gathered the most significant updates and social media highlights from Thursday into one summarized report.
Zac Gallen remains a highly sought-after free agent, drawing ongoing interest from at least three teams: the Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago Cubs, and Baltimore Orioles, according to a report from the New York Post on Wednesday night. Additionally, the Los Angeles Angels and San Diego Padres have shown early signs of engagement in negotiations this offseason.
At 30 years old, Gallen entered this winter ranked as the 18th best free agent by CBS Sports. Earlier evaluations noted that after a challenging season overall, Gallen showed promise during a strong late-season stretch with 11 starts. He was considered a likely candidate to accept a qualifying offer if presented or sign a one-year deal elsewhere to refine his pitching skills and bounce back from recent underperformance.
Throughout his career, Gallen boasts a 3.58 ERA (119 ERA+) and a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 3.27 over more than 1,000 innings pitched. According to Baseball Reference, his contributions account for about 20.7 wins above replacement. Notably, Gallen turned down a qualifying offer from the Diamondbacks, which means any club that signs him may face draft pick consequences.
Fan Take: This ongoing free-agent saga is compelling because Zac Gallen represents a talented arm who could significantly impact his new team’s rotation if he returns to form. For baseball fans, the outcome of these negotiations could influence competitive balance and excitement heading into the 2025 season.
