Yankees Predicted to Chase $200 Million Cy Young Candidate Hitting Free Agency

With Vladimir Guerrero Jr. off the market, after he agreed to a 14-year, $500 million contract extension with the Toronto Blue Jays, next offseason's free agent class will lack a true marquee attraction. But quality free agents will still be available, and one pitcher likely to be among the leaders of the pack is 29-year-old Arizona Diamondbacks righty Zac Gallen.

Though hampered by a hamstring injury last season, Gallen posted a 14-6 record, the fifth-best won-loss percentage in MLB, and solid 3.65 ERA. The previous season, Gallen won 17 against nine losses with a 3.47 ERA (seventh in the National League). He handled 210 innings, second in MLB, including a complete game shutout. Gallen placed third in NL Cy Young voting in 2023.

Gallen is pitching on a one-year, $13.5 million contract in his final year of team control. When Gallen makes his initial foray into free agency at the end of the season, the sports business site Spotrac estimates he can expect a six-year deal totaling $138.7 million.

But other estimates see Gallen's price rising as high as $200 million. That's the figure cited by USA Today MLB insider Bob Nightengale, who wrote on Sunday that Yankees decision-makers were "drooling" over the prospect of adding Gallen.

"Gallen will be a free agent after the season, and loves life back East growing up in the Philadelphia area," Nightengale wrote. "The Diamondbacks would love to have him back, but it's unrealistic to believe they can afford two $200 million pitcher on their staff with Corbin Burnes signing a six-year, $210 million contract last winter."

More MLB: Red Sox Predicted to Land Brewers All-Star in Blockbuster Trade Idea

Burnes, the 2021 NL Cy Young winner with the Milwaukee Brewers, stunned baseball experts when he signed with Arizona, a team that was not believed to be in the running to acquire a free agent of his price tag. Burnes, who had recently become the father of twins, subsequently explained that he preferred to pitch close to his offseason home in Arizona.

"Pairing Gallen with Gerrit Cole would be a dream duo," wrote Robert Casey, head writer of the Bleeding Yankee Blue blog. "While Cole keeps batters guessing with his pitch variety and laser-focused preparation, Gallen's precision and knack for avoiding walks have turned him into a rising Cy Young contender."

But while the Diamondbacks, as Nightengale noted, may not have to budget to pay two pitchers in the nine-figure range, Casey notes that budgetary considerations may also factor into the Yankees' ability to sign Gallen.

The Yankees still owe ace Gerrit Cole $36 million in 2026, and in each of the next two years. In the offseason, they also signed former Atlanta Braves lefty Max Fried to an eight-year deal that pays him $27.25 million per year. Adding Gallen -- even at the possibly low Spotrac estimate of $23.1 million per year -- may be to much, even for the Yankees budget.

Gallen is off to a shaky start this season, but the southern New Jersey native has sandwiched two shaky starts around a 6 2/3 inning gem in Yankee Stadium, in which he allowed only three hits, striking out 13, giving up no walks and no runs — a dazzling performance that may account for New York's reported interest in the pending free agent.

More MLB: Diamondbacks Ace Projected To Land Massive 7-Year, $187 Million Contract