Diamondbacks Retain Ace Zac Gallen Despite Trade Deadline Frenzy

As the 2023 MLB Trade Deadline approached, the Arizona Diamondbacks found themselves in a seller's position, making several moves to offload players. However, one notable name that remained on the roster was former ace Zac Gallen. Gallen, who has been with the Diamondbacks through both good and bad times, including their surprise 2023 World Series run, has seen a steep decline in his performance this season. Through 127 innings (22 starts) in 2025, Gallen has posted a 5.60 ERA, the second-worst qualified ERA in the major leagues. Despite Gallen's struggles, the Diamondbacks opted not to trade the right-hander. According to the team's general manager, Mike Hazen, there was a decent amount of interest in Gallen, but the offers did not meet the team's valuation of the pitcher. Hazen explained that the Diamondbacks had to set a high bar for trading Gallen due to his potential value as a free agent after the 2025 season. The Diamondbacks did make several other moves at the deadline, including trading away Gallen's counterpart, Merrill Kelly, to the Texas Rangers. They also sent Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suárez to the Mariners, Randal Grichuk to the Royals, and Shelby Miller and Jordan Montgomery to the Brewers. While Gallen's future with the Diamondbacks remains uncertain, the team's decision to hold onto the former ace suggests they still see value in the pitcher, despite his recent struggles. Whether Gallen can regain his form and help the Diamondbacks in the future remains to be seen.