The Chicago Cubs have been closely linked to Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen for the last few months. At one point, it seemed like the two sides were close to a deal, but nothing came to fruition.
After signing Alex Bregman, it seems like the Cubs won’t be able to afford Gallen if there’s another team willing to give him a long-term deal.
CBS Sports’ RJ Anderson predicted the Los Angeles Angels would be the team to sign Gallen instead of the Cubs this winter.
“Gallen did his best to recover from a miserable start to his walk year, but his free-agent appeal took a hit once he was tendered the qualifying offer,” Anderson wrote. “He declined it and decided to test the market all the same, but it’s not clear if that decision is going to pay off.
“A return to the Diamondbacks seems like the cleanest path forward, but it’s theoretically possible that a team like the Angels or the Giants jump on what they perceive to be a buy-low opportunity — even if it means giving up a draft pick.”
Gallen is one of the best pitchers left on the market right now, which makes him an intriguing free agent target for a slew of big league clubs.
The Angels are seemingly trying to contend again this year, which makes them a fit for Gallen. If they’re able to land him on a solid three-year deal, the team would be in a solid spot going forward. If the Angels are going to push for a postseason spot with Mike Trout on the roster, they’re going to need to secure moves like signing Gallen.
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