ESPN projects contracts for 3 notable Arizona Diamondbacks free agents

Three Arizona Diamondbacks rank among ESPN's "Top 50 2026-27 MLB free agents."

ESPN writer Kiley McDaniel also included contract projections for all three Diamondbacks free agents in his ranking. Right-handed pitchers Michael Soroka (ranked at No. 28), Jonathan Loaisiga (No. 29) and Zac Gallen (No. 44) were the three Diamondbacks listed, with all three finding similar average annual value in their projected new deals.

Per The Arizona Republic's Diamondbacks beat reporter Nick Piecoro, "right-hander Michael Soroka declined his end of a $10 million mutual option for 2027, making him a free agent." McDaniel sees Soroka snagging a two-year/$24 million deal as his next contract.

Soroka's 3.41 ERA and 1.086 WHIP from 2026 are balanced out by the right-hander's health concerns. Soroka has appeared in over 22 games just once in the past seven seasons (2024). McDaniel sees the length of contract coming down to Soroka's choice.

"The traits are still there (but the ground ball rate is now below average), and he's still in his 20s for all of next season, so I could see a one-year prove-it deal or a team taking a gamble that the bulk and quality will show up now and offer him a two-year contract," McDaniel wrote. "I think there will be interest in both concepts, so this is mostly Soroka's call."

As for Loaisiga, McDaniel sees a two-year/$22 million contract on its way. He posted a 2.42 ERA and 1.030 WHIP in 2026. McDaniel credits his performance to "improved command, a slight tweak to his pitch mix and a bit more zip on his fastball."

Loaisiga pitches to contact effectively, striking out just 6.4 batters per nine innings but allowing just 7.5 hits per nine innings. Making the most appearances of his career in 2026 (67), Loaisiga is still in his athletic prime at age 32.

Gallen is a year younger than Loaisiga, but has not produced these past two seasons. Gallen has put together a 4.83 ERA campaign in 2025 and a 6.07 ERA campaign in 2026. Previously, the only season he recorded an ERA over 3.65 was 2021, and he had never recorded an ERA over 3.65 in a healthy season prior to 2025.

"Gallen is yet another potential target for low-payroll, development-first clubs to get an All-Star-level talent for a smaller one-year deal," McDaniel wrote.

McDaniel projects Gallen to pick up a one-year, $12 million contract in free agency and writes that a change of scenery is part of the best move for Gallen. Gallen finished top five in Cy Young award voting in 2022 and 2023 while with the Diamondbacks, but the team is likely cutting payroll for 2027. That does not bode well for Gallen's chances of remaining in the desert.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: ESPN projects contracts for 3 notable Arizona Diamondbacks free agents