The Atlanta Braves are a team that has come up as a possible landing spot for right-hander Zac Gallen, a free agent of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
However, after a somewhat down 2025, some have questioned if the Braves make as much sense as others. If Atlanta doesn’t want to pay Gallen a ton, it could require the Braves to look elsewhere. Gallen looks like the type of arm Atlanta would want, but it’s tough to ignore last season.
Rowan Kavner of FOX Sports pointed out why Gallen’s market is harder to pin down than it might seem, but added that Atlanta is a fit.
“Given Gallen’s career success — he finished third in Cy Young voting in 2023 — this is a tough time for him to be entering free agency,” Kavner wrote. “The right-hander, who amassed a 3.20 ERA from 2022-24, recorded a career-worst 4.83 ERA in 2025 while seeing his strikeout rate plummet and allowing a career-high 31 home runs. Only three pitchers surrendered more. However, he did go out on an intriguing note, registering a 3.32 ERA over his final 11 starts.”
The Braves don’t need a full teardown of their rotation, but they do need health and probably another arm or two.
Gallen’s track record suggests he can be that guy again, but at what cost?
The upside is obviously there, which is important.
If Atlanta believes the second-half Gallen is the real one, as well as in previous seasons, adding him could help. However, there’s no guarantee that’s how the Braves feel.
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