"What a shame"; "Holy overpay" - Fans buzz as Cubs near $22M-per-year Zac Gallen deal, per insider

MLB insider Bob Nightengale claimed that the Chicago Cubs had finalized an agreement with Zac Gallen for a $22 million per year deal before correcting himself. But that was enough to send social media into a frenzy.

Fans started speculating that signing Gallen, who pitched to a 13-15, 4.83 ERA, to a multi-year contract with a $22 million annual salary would be a massive overpay.

Here are a few reactions from X:

"Holy overpay Batman," a fan said.

kingznut

@kingznut

@JustBB_Media @BNightengale Holy overpay Batman.

"Wutta shame, now I hate this man, another fan added.

Warren

@WDlawncareLLC

@JustBB_Media @BNightengale Wutta shame, now I hate this man

"Why would the Cubs pay that much to a pitcher who isn't very good? That's money that could be spent on a true Superstar," a fan noted.

RedStallion41

@RedStallion41

@JustBB_Media @BNightengale Why would the Cubs pay that much to a pitcher who isn't very good? That's money that could be spent on a true Superstar.

"Would be a big overpay," a fan claimed.

Rick Winet

@rick_winet3

@JustBB_Media @BNightengale would be a big overpay

"Cubs are such a f***ing joke," a fan stated.

Chicago Sports Addict

@bdub2333

@JustBB_Media @BNightengale Cubs are such a fucking joke

"Another soft pitching finesse guy?" a fan questioned.

Alex Purvis

@purv44

Another soft pitching finesse guy? Jim Hendry would never

Gallen is two seasons removed from a National League Cy Young finalist finish. He went 17-9 with a 3.47 ERA in 2023, which helped the Diamondbacks to win the National League pennant. It was Gallen's third Cy Young finish in four seasons. He had a decent 2024 season, but his latest performance for the Diamondbacks has filled insiders and executives with doubts over his ability to remain a top-level pitcher.

After Nightengale's admission, ESPN's Jeff Passan clarified that there wasn't any confirmed news about the signing with Nightengale, himself, sending a similar update.

"Zac Gallen does not have a deal and is not close to finalizing one," Passan wrote.

Jeff Passan

@JeffPassan

Zac Gallen does not have a deal and is not close to finalizing one.

Cubs' current starting rotation includes Shota Imanaga, Matthew Boyd, Jameson Taillon, and Cade Horton. They will be expected to add at least one piece from the rich list of free agent pitchers available this offseason.

Jim Bowden links Zac Gallen to Cubs' National League contenders

The Athletic writer Jim Bowden published a "MLB Winter Meetings Wish List" on Friday, where he hoped that the Atlanta Braves would finalize a five-year $135 million contract with Zac Gallen.

"Once Gallen joins the Braves, their pitching room immediately makes adjustments with his mechanics and gets him back on track," Bowden wrote in his column.

Bowden's projected number will have Gallen earn $27 million annually, a significant increase from the $22 million that the Cubs' targeted amount for the right-hander is, which is already being panned.