Inside The Cardinals

Cardinals Linked To Reunion With $13.5 Million Star

Could the Cardinals pursue a reunion with Zac Gallen?
Zach Pressnell|
Jun 3, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno (14) and starting pitcher Zac Gallen (23) react after an out against the Atlanta Braves in the seventh inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Jun 3, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno (14) and starting pitcher Zac Gallen (23) react after an out against the Atlanta Braves in the seventh inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images

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The St. Louis Cardinals continue to win and it continues to shift their potential trade deadline approach. Rather than look to rebuild, the Cardinals could be in position to win right now, especially if they make the necessary upgrades at the trade deadline.

Of the positions the Cardinals need to address, they could look to add a powerful outfielder. More importantly, they need to add pitching depth to both the starting rotation and the bullpen.

The bullpen might be the more pressing need at the moment, but there are still some reasons the Cardinals could add a starting pitcher.

Just Baseball's Zach Lutz recently suggested the Cardinals could be in the market for a reunion with Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen. The Cardinals drafted Gallen in the third round of the 2016 MLB Draft.

"The Cardinals, who originally drafted Gallen, could bring him home to fortify a rotation already anchored by Sonny Gray, Erick Fedde and supported by a breakout from southpaw Matthew Liberatore," Lutz wrote.

With Miles Mikolas' underlying numbers, including his xERA, strikeout rate, whiff rate, and hard-hit rate, all indicating some serious regression this season, it's easy to assume the Cardinals could add a starting pitcher.

But St. Louis has enough depth in the minor leagues, including the likes of Quinn Mathews and Tink Hence, to fill out their rotation if Mikolas regresses in a huge way. Plus, the Cardinals don't need to add another expiring pitcher to their rotation, espeically one represented by notorious agent Scott Boras. There would be next to no chance the Cardinals re-sign Gallen in free agency.

To make the idea even worse, the righty isn't throwing too well this season. At times over the last few years, he's looked like an ace, but right now, his ERA is over 5.00 and he's struggling. This idea doesn't make much sense at all.

More MLB: Cardinals Urged To Trade Breakout Star Pitcher

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Zach Pressnell
ZACH PRESSNELL

Zach Pressnell has experience covering all major US sports at both the professional and collegiate levels. He’s produced content for FanSided, Blog Red Machine, The Game Haus, Bethany College Athletics and the Bethany College online newspaper, He graduated from Bethany College (WV) with a degree in Communications and Media Arts, specializing in Sports Journalism. Pressnell was also a four-year member of the baseball team where he earned himself All-PAC recognition as a pitcher (and a cool Tommy John surgery scar). Now, Pressnell specializes in NFL and MLB coverage for Sports Illustrated’s “On SI” network among others. For all business/marketing inquiries regarding "St. Louis Cardinals On SI," please reach out to Scott Neville: scott@wtfsports.org

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