This offseason carries major significance for the Atlanta Braves and their long-term outlook. After spending the bulk of the 2020s as the clear powerhouse of the National League East, the competitive landscape around them has begun to shift.
Rivals such as the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets have made meaningful progress in closing the gap, which has placed added pressure on Atlanta’s leadership to respond decisively. General manager Alex Anthopoulos is well aware that the status quo will not be enough if the Braves plan to reclaim their place among the league’s top contenders and secure a return to the postseason in 2026.
At the center of Atlanta’s offseason agenda is the future of designated hitter Marcell Ozuna. His situation stands as the biggest and most complicated decision facing the front office, given both his production and the uncertainty surrounding his long-term role. Once the organization resolves what to do with Ozuna, attention is expected to shift directly toward roster reinforcement in several key areas.
The Braves are widely believed to be targeting upgrades in the starting rotation, additional depth and reliability in the bullpen, and an extra infielder who can strengthen both their lineup and defensive versatility. While some internal options exist, external additions appear necessary to keep pace with their increasingly aggressive divisional foes.
Recently, a prominent MLB insider suggested that one of Atlanta’s top pursuits should be starting pitcher Zac Gallen of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Adding a proven frontline arm like Gallen would not only stabilize the rotation but also provide the Braves with the kind of high-end talent needed to withstand the challenges of a tightening NL East race. With so much at stake, this offseason could define the trajectory of the Braves for years to come.
Braves Predicted to Sign Diamondbacks’ Zac Gallen
Zac Gallen struggled throughout the 2025 season with the Arizona Diamondbacks, but that down year doesn’t erase the fact that he could still be a strong asset for a new team. Sometimes a pitcher simply needs a different environment, new coaching voices, or a fresh organizational approach to get back to the level they’ve previously shown. For that reason, Gallen remains an intriguing rebound candidate for clubs searching for rotation help.
In his “Winter Meetings Wish List” column for The Athletic, Jim Bowden identified the Atlanta Braves as a team that should aggressively pursue Gallen in free agency. Bowden recommended that Atlanta offer the right-hander a five-year contract worth $135 million.
According to Bowden, the Braves’ pitching infrastructure would immediately work with Gallen to tweak his delivery and restore the consistency he has lost. Though Bowden’s reasoning was brief, he clearly believes Atlanta’s developmental track record could help Gallen rediscover his peak form.
Still, it’s fair to ask how much mechanical adjustments alone could realistically change Gallen’s results. His 2025 numbers paint a picture of a pitcher who wasn’t just dealing with bad luck. Across 192 innings, Gallen finished with a 4.93 ERA. Looking deeper, his fielding independent pitching (FIP)—which strips away defensive factors and isolates what a pitcher controls—was 4.50. That figure is also well above league average, suggesting his performance issues ran deeper than random variance or defensive shortcomings.
However, teams won’t ignore the fact that Gallen has shown high-end ability not too long ago. His best work came in 2022 and 2023, when he looked like a frontline starter. In 2022, he delivered a stellar 2.54 ERA across 31 starts, showcasing elite command and swing-and-miss stuff.
The next year, he followed it up with a 2023 All-Star campaign, throwing 210 innings with a 3.47 ERA and racking up 220 strikeouts. That two-year stretch demonstrated the kind of ceiling Gallen possesses when everything is working.
Another major selling point for any team pursuing Gallen is his durability. He has taken the ball consistently, making at least 28 starts in each of the last four seasons. In a league where dependable innings have become increasingly valuable, Gallen’s ability to stay healthy and shoulder a full workload is a significant advantage. If an organization like the Braves believes they can help refine his mechanics and approach, there’s reason to think he could rebound and once again pitch like a top-tier starter.
What Would this Signing Mean for Atlanta?
The Atlanta Braves enter the offseason with a reliable duo leading their pitching staff in Chris Sale and Spencer Schwellenbach, giving them a strong foundation at the top of the rotation. Even with that stability, the organization is actively looking to reinforce the back end of the staff with additional arms who can provide consistency and depth throughout the long season.
One name that continues to surface is Zac Gallen. Although Gallen has long been viewed as a top-tier starter capable of anchoring a rotation, a new environment and a slightly adjusted role could be exactly what he needs as he aims to rebound from a difficult 2025 campaign.
That said, the projected contract estimate of five years and $135 million raises legitimate questions about fit and value, especially from Atlanta’s perspective. The Braves typically invest heavily only in players they expect to fill major roles, and paying that kind of premium for someone who might slot in as their third or even fourth starter could prove to be a stretch. With other areas of the roster also needing attention, Atlanta’s front office will have to carefully weigh whether Gallen’s price tag aligns with their broader offseason strategy.
The statistical outlook adds an additional layer of complexity. BaseballReference.com projects Gallen to finish the upcoming season with a 4.21 ERA across 171 innings—numbers that suggest competence but not necessarily the elite production typically associated with a nine-figure contract. Much of Gallen’s struggle in 2025 stemmed from an uncharacteristic spike in home runs allowed.
He surrendered a career-high 31 long balls over 192 innings, a trend that significantly inflated his ERA and undermined his overall performance. Whether those issues were mechanical, related to pitch selection, or simply the product of an off year will be a major factor in how teams evaluate his value moving forward.
As Major League Baseball’s winter meetings approach, all eyes will be on the rumblings coming out of the Braves’ front office. Given their recent dominance in the NL East and the narrowing gap between them and their divisional rivals, the team faces important decisions about how aggressively to improve. Any reports linking Atlanta to Gallen—or indicating whether they’re willing to meet his financial expectations—will be closely watched as the organization shapes its blueprint for the 2026 season and beyond.
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