Blue Jays pivoting trade plans towards Diamondbacks all-star

Feb 7, 2026 (7:16 PM)

Photo credit: Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The latest rumblings have the Blue Jays circling Zac Gallen, and if this happens, the rest of the AL East should just pack it up now.

After missing out on Kyle Tucker and watching Bo Bichette walk to the Mets, we thought the big spending was over.

But Ross Atkins might have one more ace up his sleeve—literally.

Gallen (Drafted 3rd Round, 2016 by St. Louis) is coming off a "down" year where he still posted a 4.83 ERA and 13 wins for Arizona.

Don't let that ERA fool you; this guy was a top-5 Cy Young finisher in 2022 and 2023 for a reason.

The rumor mill suggests a short-term "prove it" deal could be in the works, similar to what we've seen smart teams do with elite talent before.

Adding him to a rotation that already features Dylan Cease, Kevin Gausman, and Shane Bieber is almost unfair.

It would give us arguably the deepest six-man rotation in baseball, taking pressure off rookie Trey Yesavage.

We've been burned by "almost" signings before, but this one feels different because the market has fallen right into our lap.

Gallen needs to rebuild his value, and Toronto needs a sure thing to pair with its high-octane offense.

Imagine a playoff series where your fourth starter is a guy who has started an All-Star Game.

It sends a message to the Yankees and Orioles that we aren't just content with a Wild Card spot.

This is the kind of aggressive, "go for the jugular" move that turns good teams into dynasties.

If Atkins pulls this off, all is forgiven for the quiet weeks we've endured since the holidays.

Let's hope the checkbook is still open, because Gallen in Blue Jays blue looks like a perfect fit.

Previously on Toronto Baseball Insider

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FEVRIER 7\|343 ANSWERS Blue Jays pivoting trade plans towards Diamondbacks all-star Is Zac Gallen the final piece of a World Series rotation?
Yes	178	51.9 %
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