Diamondbacks Avoid Arbitration with Key Players Zach Gallen and Josh Naylor
The Arizona Diamondbacks have successfully avoided arbitration with two of their key players, right-hander Zach Gallen and first baseman Josh Naylor. According to reports from MLB.com and FanSided, Gallen will make $13.5MM, while Naylor will make $10.9MM. This was the final year that both players controlled the club.
Gallen, 29, had a solid season in 2024, pitching 148 innings and posting a 3.65 ERA. Although his ERA was the highest it has been in the past three seasons, Gallen is still an All-Star caliber player. He finished in the top five in NL Cy Young voting in both 2022 and 2023, earning the only All-Star honors of his career in the second half of both seasons. During those two years, Gallen pitched to a 3.04 ERA in 394 innings.
At his best, Gallen is a dominant force on the mound. He has a career 3.29 ERA, 26.6% strikeout rate, and 7.6% walk rate in 815 1/3 innings. After making his major league debut with the Marlins in 2019, Miami traded him to Arizona that summer. Gallen has been a staple in the Diamondbacks’ rotation ever since.
Naylor, 27, came to Arizona in a trade with the Cleveland Guardians last month. The 2025 season will be the only year the Diamondbacks have control over Naylor, who hit a career-high 31 home runs in 2024. In 2024, he’s hitting.243/.320/.456, which is about 18% better than league average as measured by wRC+. Naylor’s bat weakened a bit in the second half of the season, but he’s still a solid slugger who will take over the middle of the D-backs’ lineup.
To put it more succinctly, Naylor is a consistent hitter who will provide power and production in the Diamondbacks’ lineup. He’s walking at a career-high 9.2% rate and fanning at a 16.6% rate, well below league average. With Naylor at first base, the Diamondbacks will have a strong presence in the middle of their lineup.
FAQ:
Q: What are the salaries for Zach Gallen and Josh Naylor?
A: Zach Gallen will make $13.5MM, while Josh Naylor will make $10.9MM.
Q: What is Zach Gallen’s career ERA?
A: Gallen has a career 3.29 ERA in 815 1/3 innings.
Q: What is Josh Naylor’s career-high home run total?
A: Naylor hit a career-high 31 home runs in 2024.
Q: How long will the Diamondbacks have control over Josh Naylor?
A: The 2025 season will be the only year the Diamondbacks have control over Naylor.
Conclusion:
The Diamondbacks’ avoidance of arbitration with Gallen and Naylor is a positive development for the team. Gallen is a dominant force on the mound, and Naylor is a solid slugger who will provide power and production in the lineup. With these two players under contract, the Diamondbacks will have a strong presence in their rotation and lineup for the 2025 season.
