Zac Gallen Would Cost the Angels Big — and That’s Exactly Why They Should Do It
December 31, 2025 - Written by Jas Singh
Giants, Angels, Tigers Among Teams Interested In Zac Gallen https://t.co/seJgE0Gqms pic.twitter.com/fqOFCiUdNu
— MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) December 5, 2025
Happy Holidays to Angel fans everywhere, where once again it has become many fans' first Christmas wish for this team to make some kind of splash in a once again competitive AL West. Back when we traded for Grayson Rodriguez, I mentioned how this starting rotation is slowly developing into something reliable and competitive. But another headline starter is vital considering the long season and how inconsistent starting pitching has been for this ball club in basically the last decade.
The perfect fit for me is clear as day, and that is Zac Gallen. Gallen has consistently been connected to the Angels and has been durable for an improving Diamondbacks roster. Residing in Arizona, I have been able to catch tons of his games, and outside of a little shaky 2025, Gallen has always had frontline starter potential. The two biggest things this ballclub has lacked from starting pitching are consistency and durability. These are two metrics that Gallen excels at. Gallen has kept his ERA in the low 3.00s in several seasons, showing that he can consistently keep you in games and is not bolstered by one season. Strong FIP and xERA numbers suggest his success isn’t luck-driven but rooted in command, pitch quality, and sequencing. Gallen’s strikeout rate is consistently above average, while he also boasts great walk control, showing he doesn’t inflate pitch counts. Gallen won’t blow you away with a high-velocity fastball, but he will use it to get ahead in counts to set up his off-speed stuff. His money is in his cutter and curveball. His curveball tops out at 82 mph and has an elite vertical drop with sharp spin. This is his bread and butter when producing whiffs and a huge part of his elite chase rates. While his curveball is his put-away pitch, his cutter is something he frequently goes to against lefties. The pitch keeps the barrel off the ball and produces tons of ground balls.
From a pitcher profile standpoint, he fits perfectly into this stacking rotation. Gallen will win you over with amazing command, sequencing, and weak contact. Yusei Kikuchi attacks with velocity and strikeouts. Soriano adds power and ground-ball potential. Rodríguez offers flexibility and future upside. While we might see guys like Reid Detmers or Caden Dana make the jump, adding even more to this already solid rotation. Different looks, tempos, and strengths make the rotation harder to game-plan against and easier to manage over a full season.
Gallen will be pricey, but the Angels must show they can spend to advance. Gallen will have plenty of suitors, and he backs it up with the metrics. Durability and giving you several innings over the course of the season are ingredients winning ballclubs look for in their starting pitching. Gallen certainly is an immediate impact player, that completes a rotation that can surely surprise people come spring.
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