Atlanta, October 28, 2025 – The Atlanta Braves’ rotation is a tightrope walk into 2026: Chris Sale’s 2.98 ERA dazzles, Spencer Strider’s recovery holds promise, and Spencer Schwellenbach’s 2.98 ERA in 10 starts hints at stardom, but injuries to Reynaldo López (shoulder), AJ Smith-Shawver (elbow), and Grant Holmes (UCL rehab) expose a dire depth crisis. Enter Zac Gallen, the Diamondbacks’ 30-year-old ace whose 2025 stumble—4.83 ERA, 31 homers allowed—tanks his free-agent stock but screams opportunity for Alex Anthopoulos’ value-hunting philosophy. The sports card above shows Gallen’s 13-15 record, 175 Ks, and 1.26 WHIP in 192 IP, a far cry from his 2019–23 dominance (3.21 ERA, third in 2023 NL Cy Young). At a projected 5-year, $135M deal ($27M AAV), per Jim Bowden, is Gallen the perfect low-risk, high-reward addition to pair with Sale—or a pricey gamble that could haunt Atlanta’s $180M payroll?
Gallen’s Fall: From Cy Young to Question Mark
From 2019–23, Gallen was a force: 115 starts, 3.21 ERA, 9.5 K/9, and top-10 Cy Young finishes (third in 2023). His 2022 scoreless streak (44.1 IP) set a Diamondbacks record, and his .186 opponent average that year topped the NL. But 2025 was brutal: a 4.83 ERA, 21.5% K-rate (career-low), and 31 homers (third-most in MLB) marred his walk year. His knuckle curve and slider bled hard contact, with a barrel rate in the 26th percentile. Still, his 92.5 mph fastball and spin rates align with his peak, suggesting bad luck (4.09 xFIP vs. 4.83 ERA) and sequencing woes, not a broken arm. “Gallen’s stuff isn’t gone—just misfired,” a scout told The Athletic.
Why Atlanta? A Fit for Anthopoulos’ Blueprint
Anthopoulos thrives on reclamation bets—Chris Sale’s 2024 revival (2.98 ERA, 4.0 WAR) is proof. Gallen’s durability (192 IP in 2025) and groundball tilt (45%) suit Truist Park’s dimensions, and Atlanta’s pitching lab could tweak his pitch mix (less cutter, more four-seamer). Pairing his 8.2 K/9 with Sale’s 11.2 creates a lethal 1-2 punch, with Schwellenbach and Elder (3.85 ERA) as depth. At 30, Gallen’s prime isn’t over, and a 2.5 WAR projection for 2026 screams value if his price dips below $27M AAV. On X, fans are split: “Gallen’s Sale 2.0—trust AA!” one post hit 10K likes, while another warned, “$135M for 4.83 ERA? Pass.”
The Catch: Payroll and Risk
Bowden’s $135M projection stings—Max Fried walked for less ($26M AAV over eight years). Atlanta’s $180M payroll, with Riley ($20M) and Albies ($35M) extensions looming, can’t absorb a bust. Gallen’s 1.45 HR/9 in 2025 risks Truist’s short porch, and his 8.1% walk rate needs fixing. Alternatives like Ranger Suárez (2.59 ERA, $8M option) or Merrill Kelly (3.43 ERA, cheaper) tempt, but lack Gallen’s upside. A shorter 3-year, $60M deal could thread the needle.
Conclusion
Zac Gallen’s 2025 flop masks a Cy Young arm Atlanta could revive. A $27M AAV is steep, but a discounted deal fits Anthopoulos’ bargain-hunting DNA. With Sale leading and Strider healing, Gallen could be the missing piece for 90 wins—or a costly misstep. Braves fans, roll the dice: Gallen’s risk is real, but so is his reward.
