The Yankees could be looking at Arizona’s Zac Gallen as a potential trade target if the Diamondbacks decide to sell before the deadline.
Jon Morosi of MLB Network floated the idea Thursday, suggesting Gallen could be a good fit for New York’s rotation needs.
“I think Zac Gallen and the Yankees would be a really good fit if the D-backs ultimately decide to potentially move,” Morosi said.
It’s an intriguing possibility given where both teams sit right now. The Yankees have fallen 2 1/2 games behind Toronto in the AL East after watching a seven-game lead evaporate in June. They’re also coming off a six-game losing streak that exposed some real weaknesses.
Their rotation’s been decimated by injuries. Gerrit Cole is done for the season, Clarke Schmidt just hit the IL and won’t return until 2025, and Luis Gil is still working his way back.
That’s where Gallen comes in.
The right-hander hasn’t had his best season – he’s 7-9 with a 5.15 ERA in 19 starts. But he’s still logged 110 innings and struck out 107 batters. For a Yankees rotation that needs reliable innings, those numbers aren’t terrible.
What makes this different is the cost. Gallen’s a pending free agent, and his down year means Arizona probably won’t demand top prospects in return. That’s important for the Yankees, who’ve been reluctant to trade their best young talent.
The former All-Star can still eat innings and generate strikeouts, even if his rate per nine has dropped this year. Sometimes that’s exactly what a team needs – someone who can take the ball every fifth day and give you six innings.
Arizona hasn’t declared themselves sellers yet. They’re still evaluating where they stand, but continued struggles could change that calculus quickly. If they do decide to move veterans, Gallen’s contract situation makes him an obvious candidate.
From the Yankees’ perspective, it’s the type of move that could help them retake the AL East without mortgaging their future. They need rotation help now, and Gallen – even a diminished version – brings more upside than most available options.
The question is whether Arizona decides it’s time to look toward 2026 instead of trying to salvage this season.
