Right-hander Zac Gallen declined the Arizona Diamondbacks' qualifying offer, a move that sets the D-backs up to receive a draft pick should Gallen sign elsewhere as a free agent.
The decision to turn down the one-year, $22 million offer does not come as a surprise, though there were some who believed there was a chance he would accept based on the disappointing season he had this year.
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zac Gallen works against a San Diego Padres batter during the first inning, Sept. 26, 2025, in San Diego.
Gallen will now cost a signing team a draft pick, with the severity of the penalty depending on where the signing club stands in the competitive balance tax/revenue sharing system. Clubs that receive revenue-sharing money must part with their third-highest selection in the draft. Clubs that pay taxes must forfeit their second- and fifth-highest selections in addition to losing international bonus pool money.
The Diamondbacks would not have to give up anything to re-sign him. But if Gallen signs elsewhere, they are in line to get a pick.
If Gallen receives more than $50 million in guaranteed money, the D-backs would get a pick that comes after the first round. If he signs for less than $50 million, they would receive a pick that comes before the start of the third round.
Gallen is the fourth player to receive a qualifying offer in the team's history. All four have now declined. The others were lefty Patrick Corbin, center fielder A.J. Pollock and first baseman Christian Walker.
Gallen had an uncharacteristically poor season this year, posting a 4.83 ERA in 33 starts. That is more than a full run worse than his career ERA of 3.58.
Most believe he will still receive strong multi-year offers from pitching-starved teams, with the fallback of taking a short-term “pillow” contract in hopes of rebuilding his value for next winter.
