Orioles Should Pass on Zac Gallen as Rotation Search Nears Conclusion

As the MLB offseason enters its final stretch, the Baltimore Orioles remain widely expected to add one more starting pitcher to solidify their rotation. By most reports, Framber Valdez remains the club’s top target—a pursuit that makes sense given Baltimore’s long-standing interest and Mike Elias’ familiarity with Valdez from his Houston Astros days.

However, that pursuit may not come easily.

The New York Mets continue to loom as a serious threat in the Valdez sweepstakes, and a bidding war with a deep-pocketed rival is not a scenario the Orioles are eager to entertain. If Valdez’s price escalates beyond comfort, Baltimore may be forced to pivot.

That pivot, however, should not be toward Zac Gallen.

Orioles Need a Certainty, Not a Project

Baltimore’s rotation needs are specific. The Orioles are not simply searching for innings; they are looking for a starter who can slot cleanly alongside Trevor Rogers and Kyle Bradish and provide reliable top-of-the-rotation production.

That distinction matters.

While Gallen’s name naturally surfaces whenever teams search for starting pitching, his recent performance suggests he is no longer the pitcher he once was.

In 2025, his final season with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Gallen posted a 4.83 ERA across 33 starts, a far cry from the dominant version that once made him a perennial National League Cy Young contender.

Declining Indicators Raise Red Flags

The underlying metrics only reinforce the concern.

Gallen’s ERA+, where 100 represents league average, has declined steadily over the past three seasons:

• 126

• 115

• 89

That downward trend is accompanied by a noticeable drop in his ability to miss bats, one of the defining traits that once separated him from mid-rotation arms. At this stage, Gallen requires meaningful refinement before he can again be viewed as a true front-line starter.

That’s a risk the Orioles should avoid.

Cost vs. Return Makes Little Sense for Baltimore

If Gallen were available on a buy-low deal, the conversation would be different. But that is not the reality of his free agency.

Gallen rejected the Diamondbacks’ qualifying offer, signaling his intent to pursue a contract worth more than $22 million per year. Any team that signs him would also be required to surrender draft pick compensation and international bonus pool money.

For a franchise that has placed renewed emphasis on draft capital and international development, that price is significant.

If the Orioles are going to make those sacrifices, the return must be an expected solution, not a reclamation project. That calculus explains why Baltimore might stretch for Valdez—but should not for Gallen.

Better Alternatives Exist

If Valdez ultimately lands with the Mets or another suitor, the Orioles would be better served exploring alternatives that offer clearer value.

A reunion with Justin Verlander would make far more sense, particularly as a short-term stabilizer for a contending roster. Chris Bassitt should also be viewed as a more reliable and cost-effective option than Gallen, given his recent consistency and durability.

Both pitchers come with far fewer unknowns—and far less downside.

The Logical Outcome

For Gallen, the most logical landing spot may be a return to Arizona, where familiarity and comfort could allow him to rebuild his value without the pressure of justifying a massive free-agent deal.

For Baltimore, patience remains the smarter play.

The Orioles are on the brink of sustained contention, and the final piece of their offseason puzzle must reinforce that trajectory—not compromise it. Spending premium dollars and draft capital on a declining arm would be a misstep.

When it comes to Zac Gallen, the answer for the Orioles should be clear:

Hard pass.