The Arizona Diamondbacks’ $22.025 million qualifying offer to Zac Gallen has started a bidding war between two National League East rivals. The 30-year-old right-hander made $13.5 million last season and is now at the center of a growing battle between the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies. Both teams want to improve their rotations after disappointing seasons in 2025.

If Gallen turns down Arizona’s qualifying offer, Bob Nightengale and Gabe Lacques of USA Today think Gallen will end up with either the Mets or the Phillies. The prediction is based on Gallen’s past performance: he finished in the top 10 of the Cy Young voting three times in five seasons and played a big part in the Diamondbacks’ World Series run in 2023. Gallen had a career-high 4.83 ERA in 33 starts in 2025, but he showed how tough he was by pitching 192 innings and striking out 175 batters. He has started at least 28 games in each of the last four seasons, which is exactly what the Mets and Phillies need right now.

The Mets have enormous holes in their rotation as they head into the offseason. Their hopes of winning the World Series fell apart even though they got Juan Soto. Veteran starters Kodai Senga, David Peterson, and Clay Holmes all had problems at the end of the season, so New York had to rely on untested rookies who couldn’t come through in big moments. The Phillies have similar problems now that they are out of the playoffs, and their depth behind their top starters has been exposed. Gallen’s ability to anchor a rotation, shown by his four straight seasons of being reliable, meets the most important need of both teams.

Gallen’s emotional postgame comments following his final regular-season start revealed the depth of his Arizona connection. “It’s tough for me to take [it] off,” he said about his Diamondbacks uniform after seven years with the organization. “I think of myself as a D-back, really.” The veteran stayed on the mound as manager Torey Lovullo walked up, not wanting to accept that this might be his last game in Arizona colors. The Diamondbacks are getting ready for draft compensation instead of a reunion with their homegrown ace, so it looks like he will have to leave.

Diamondbacks could move Jordan Lawlar to address rotation needs

Zac Gallen’s likely departure will have a ripple effect on the decisions the Arizona Diamondbacks make about their roster. The Diamondbacks are having a rotation crisis that goes beyond losing their seven-year veteran. Corbin Burnes is out with Tommy John surgery. Because of this lack of pitchers, Arizona’s front office has to think outside the box, which could mean turning other assets into trade chips to add depth to the starting lineup.

Jordan Lawlar could be the most interesting person to get hurt in this pitching hunt. The 23-year-old shortstop is in limbo with his team because he is the 11th-best prospect in baseball as of 2025. Geraldo Perdomo, a breakout star, locked down the shortstop position until 2029, leaving Lawlar with no clear way to get regular playing time. Arizona sent him to the Dominican Winter League to try out center field, which is yet another position change for a player who can’t find a home.

The Diamondbacks have talked about putting a veteran at third base, but they would rather have someone else do it. Lawlar’s problems in the big leagues, where he hit just .165, are very different from his Triple-A numbers, where he hit .313 with power and speed in 63 games. Arizona thinks of him more as trade bait than as a solution for a position, especially when looking for starting pitchers.

Teams with young, controllable arms could take advantage of Arizona’s need. The Diamondbacks need help right away with their rotation to replace Gallen and cover for Burnes. This gives teams willing to give up pitching depth a chance to acquire a prospect with six years of team control and a clear offensive ceiling at Triple-A.