Zac Gallen Could Be Next Yankees Reclamation Project for Matt Blake, ex-GM says

The Yankees just need arms at this point. They need a starter and bullpen help, so they can’t just target a top arm as a fix, they need to get creative. And according to former MLB GM Jim Bowden, there’s a starter in Arizona that could be worth a shot.

Speaking on MLB Network Radio’s “Power Alley,” Bowden floated the idea of the Yankees trading for Diamondbacks starter Zac  Gallen before the deadline. Gallen hasn’t had a great year, but Bowden sees potential and hr thinks Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake might be the key to unlocking it.

“This could be a nice project for Matt Blake,” Bowden said.

It wouldn’t be the first. 

Under Blake, the Yankees have turned struggling arms into valuable contributors. Clay Holmes was a busted Pirates reliever before becoming an All-Star closer. Luke Weaver has been effective this season after bouncing through three teams in 2023.

Gallen, 29, is 7–12 with a 5.60 ERA over 22 starts this season. But he’s flashed his old form in spurts and still owns a strong career track record. He’s also a New Jersey native who seems comfortable on a New York mound. In two starts in the city this season, one in the Bronx and one in Queens, Gallen combined for 13 shutout innings with 18 strikeouts.

Gallen has been mentioned for the Yankees before.

That local connection isn’t nothing. Neither is the price tag. Gallen is making $13.5 million this year and will be a free agent after 2025, making him a reasonable rental option.

The question is how fixable he really is. 

His strikeout rate is down, his walk rate is up, and hitters are barreling him more than ever. But if the Diamondbacks decide to sell, he’s a name that makes some sense for New York, especially if the Yankees believe Blake can work his magic again.

The upside is real. So is the risk. But this is the kind of gamble the Yankees have been willing to take before.