The San Diego Padres are backed into a corner this winter. They have a lot of money tied up in their star players, which handicaps them in free agency a bit. To make matters worse, their top two pitchers, Michael King and Dylan Cease, are headed for free agency.
King could be brought back to the Padres, but it seems like Cease is going to sign elsewhere. As a result, the Padres need to replace him with a different star in free agency or on the trade market.
FanSided’s Chris Landers recently predicted the Padres would sign Arizona Diamondbacks free agent Zac Gallen this winter.
“Gallen’s a tough one to figure out, a Cy Young candidate not too long ago coming off a largely dreadful contract year. He perked up a bit toward the end of the 2025 campaign, giving hope for a rebound in 2026, but he still likely cost himself a chance at the megadeal he felt destined for while leading Arizona to the World Series two years ago,” Landers wrote. “If he’s looking for a one-year deal to rebuild his value, he could do a lot worse than the pitcher’s paradise of San Diego, and the cash-strapped Padres could see him as a way to fill one of their multiple rotation holes without breaking the bank.”
Signing a pitcher like Gallen makes sense for the Padres if it’s affordable. Jim Bowden of The Athletic projected Gallen would sign a massive $135 million deal in free agency. At that price, the Padres might be wary of signing him.
But it’s much more likely that Gallen will sign a deal for less than $100 million. If they can land him on an affordable deal, he would be the perfect fit. At his worst, Gallen is a solid innings eater. At his best, Gallen is a borderline ace. The Padres should be willing to take that risk if the price is right.
