Trading for Zac Gallen makes sense for Cubs |
The question is whether to trade for pitching or not. It's the single biggest question facing Jed Hoyer this offseason. The Cubs know they need to improve this roster, but they need to get creative on how to do it. Blame the bad contracts this team has given out as the main reason for that, as Tom Ricketts continues to operate on a silent budget that won't allow Hoyer to pass that first luxury tier.
If this team was run like the Yankees, Mets, or Dodgers, money wouldn't be an option, as Hoyer would be able to do whatever he needed to do to improve this roster. Knowing what he has to work with, the contracts he has in place, and the budget restrictions he has, adding to this team has been a difficult task for Hoyer, and it won't get any easier this offseason. Whether it be adding a superstar arm or bat, improving the bullpen, or figuring out how to get a closer, the Cubs have a lot of needs on this team but no easy way to fill those needs. This is when Hoyer's creative nature is going to have to shine. He may not be the most loved guy in the Cubs organization, but he has been known to get creative on some of the moves he has made. His creative side helped him get Cody Bellinger two years ago and again came into play last offseason when they landed Shota Imanaga from Japan. This season, those creative juices could come into play on the trade market, as the Cubs are expected to be more active in trades than in the open market. If that is the case, why not look to get a young and controllable starter, as Zac Gallen appears to be available? Coming off another strong season, going 14-6 with a 3.65 ERA, Gallen has settled into being a very good starting pitcher and a front-of-the-line one at that. Prior to his 2024 showing, Gallen finished in the top five in Cy Young voting in 2023, going 17-9 with a 3.47 ERA and 12-4 with a 2.52 ERA in 2022. Take those three years together, and Gallen has gone 43-19 with an impressive 3.31 ERA, which goes to show the type of pitcher he is. From a career number standpoint, Gallen took a while to settle in as a pitcher and has posted a 53-37 record with a 3.29 ERA. Those are better than anyone in the Cubs rotation, and he would make the perfect pairing with Justin Steele and Imanga. Unlike a lot of pitchers in today's game who live on velocity, Gallen isn't a hard thrower and instead lives on location and deception. His fastball is around 93-94 mph, while his changeup and curveball mix keep hitters on their toes from one pitch to the next. There are times when his command can get away from him, but when he is on, he can be one of the better pitchers in the National League, as has been the case in each of the past three seasons. Acquiring a guy like Gallen won't come cheap, and knowing that the Cubs have Dansby Swanson, Ian Happ, Bellinger, Seiya Suzuki, and Pete Crow-Armstrong locked up long-term, finding the right assets to trade is going to be challenging. Sure, Michael Busch and Nico Hoerner are options, but trading either of them creates an additional hole that the Cubs need to fill, although Matt Shaw would instantly slide into second. That is where the prospects come into play and give credit where credit is due, as Hoyer has done a phenomenal job restocking this farm system. If the Cubs are indeed looking to add a guy like Gallen, Owen Caissie, James Triantos, Kevin Alcantara, Cam Smith, and Jefferson Rojas are some of the names to watch. Triantos and Alcantara seem the most likely names, but Caissie is a guy to watch mainly because of Bellinger. Had Bellinger not opted into his deal, there is a great chance that Caissie would've been the Cubs' starting RF on opening day, which would have brought a smile to many Cubs fans. With Bellinger back in the mix, it does block the path for Caissie a bit, as the Cubs would have to find a way to move someone to create an opening in RF. Trading Busch would be the easiest way to do that, as Bellinger could move to first opening up RF for Caissie. However, should that not happen, Caissie is going to be one of the more coveted trade targets this offseason, and the Cubs should be able to get who they want if they dangle his name out there. Although I wouldn't give up the farm for a guy like Gallen, I would be ok with giving up Caissie or two top 10 prospects for him as you have the ammo to get a deal done. This all falls on Jed's creative side, as he must figure things out on the fly.
