Red Sox Scouting Diamondbacks Ace in Bold Deadline Move

Red Sox Scouting Diamondbacks Ace in Bold Deadline Move originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The Boston Red Sox are desperate to validate the Rafael Devers trade and have performed admirably in the month since. After early-season struggles, starting pitcher Lucas Giolito looks like the former first-round pick that he is, and Brayan Bello has cemented himself as an integral piece in Boston’s Wild Card ascent.

Yet, nothing will justify the decision to move Devers more than a postseason appearance. Hence, the Red Sox are aggressively pursuing starting pitching ahead of the 2025 MLB trade deadline.

According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Red Sox have sent scouts to watch Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zac Gallen in Phoenix.

Gallen, 29, is a polarizing name on the market. On one hand, he is a former Cy Young finalist with a lengthy track record of recent success, which includes an All-Star nod in 2023. However, the impending free agent is struggling through the worst season of his career. Gallen’s 5.40 ERA ranks third-worst among qualified starters, and his 4.80 FIP resides just inside the top 10 worst total in baseball. Yet, his durability is a much-needed strength for a Boston rotation that has seen Kutter Crawford and Tanner Houck’s seasons derailed by injury.

The cost to acquire Gallen is directly unknown, but Nightengale adds that the Diamondbacks are telling teams they want starting pitching in return for players they deal at the deadline. Could that mean Boston trades left-hander Kyle Harrison, the top pitcher acquired in the Devers deal, to outbid other teams, or would chief baseball officer Craig Breslow prefer to deal a prospect from outside the club’s top 10 list?

Gallen has shown signs of his former self before the All-Star break, tossing consecutive quality starts while allowing just one run and striking out 19 batters. The recent stretch of success may make Boston more willing to meet the Diamondbacks' assumed high asking price, especially if they believe Gallen would be open to re-signing with the team in the offseason.

The Red Sox are currently holding a slim lead in the AL Wild Card. If they want a tighter grip on the final playoff spot or a shot to win the division, taking a risk on Gallen is not a bad option. It could be enough to take the team from fringe postseason contender to an underrated threat to win it all.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 20, 2025, where it first appeared.