Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show - How serious is the Cubs' pursuit of right-hander Zac Gallen?

Episode Date: February 10, 2026

Leila Rahimi, Marshall Harris and Mark Grote discussed the Cubs’ interest in right-hander Zac Gallen, who remains a free agent as spring training is upon us.

Harris and Grody. Could you imagine Lovie Smith doing the whole good, better, best thing? And saying bleep the Packers. Come on, guys, good better best. Never let it rest. Never let it rest. I'll see you on Tuesday. Middays 10 to 2 on 1043, the score.

There's a deep fly ball to left center field. It's got a chance. It's gone. Matt Shaw. Cubs late 6 to nothing. That is courtesy of Pat Hughes, whose voice you will hear soon. This is Rahimi Harrison Grotie on 104-3 The Score. And a little bit more on Matt Shaw in a second,

because that is also a topic that was brought up by one, Bruce Levine, but there is some development regarding, I don't know if it was a proclamation, Bruce made. As much as it was, be on the lookout for this. Bob Nightingale. The Dark Angel of White Sox News. Talks are heating up for Zach Gallen, the best remaining free agent on the market. Team showing the most interest.

San Diego Padres, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs, Arizona Diamondbacks. A likely story. He could just go back to the Diamondbacks? Is this like when Ahoyanosu just went back to the Reds? No! So the word was that he wanted it. a three to five year deal. And he got to free agency and guess what?

Nobody was out here trying to give him a three to five year deal. Got any more of those three to five year deals. They in fact have not had any more of those three to five years deals. And then he starts looking around. And I guess the idea is, well, if nobody's going to give me what I actually want, why not just stay in Arizona where I'm already comfortable and roll into the 27 work stoppage season with one strong showing to get my money on the backside if there's no salary cap, which precludes me from getting the money I think I deserve.

I like it because it's swimming downstream. Wouldn't doubt. Do nothing. Yeah. No, I'm with that. Although some people would say if you do nothing, you're already moving backwards. The way time move forward. The 30-year-old Kyle Mooney looking, Zach Allen.

Look up Kyle Mooney. Former SNL guy. He does those hilarious interviews at stadiums and whatnot. Looks just like. You're so right. I know it. I didn't even need to look at the, I didn't even need to do the, side by side. Like, yes. I was looking at the picture. I was literally on Zach Ellen's

baseball reference. And I was like, who does this guy look like? And then you, Mr. Mark Grody. Boom. Kyle Mooney. Oh, yeah, I see it. Yeah. He looks like a lot. And Kyle Mooney is hilarious. He read my mind, Grody. That's how I was like flabbery. I was like, what did you hear in my head? If you like sports humor, you've got it with Kyle Mooney. Is that Gallen hilarious? I don't know about that. But remember that one time we had Bruce on? Yes. I don't remember if we were all three together or not. But we asked. the question of Justin Steele. And I asked Bruce, I said, when

Justin Steele comes back, who will have been the ace of the team? And he said Zach Gallen. He said Zach Gallen. And then he starts throwing around terms like six-man rotation. Yeah, he did. I enjoyed that part of the conversation because I think that's what the Cubs should do. But there goes Bob Nightingale, just swooping

in. Swooping in to let you know that other teams are part of the discussion. Dang. There's one thing that Bruce Levine did report on that I think is also very worthy of discussion. The biggest question we've had since the Cubs signed Alex Bregman is,

where's Matt Shaw going? How are they going to manage his at bats? They want to get him regular at bats. Well, how about this from Bruce Levine this morning on Mullian Haw? Is Matt Shaw possibly a candidate to start opening day in right field? If you can tell me that they're going to face

a left-handed pitcher, I can probably say yes, right? because there's going to be some platooning going on. I mean, look, Biasteros is considered an important part of this offense going into 2026. That is DH. That is left-handed bat. But when you're facing a left-hander, that dynamic changes. I'm expecting Suzuki to go back and be the DH those days, or it can be Shaw,

and then Shaw in right field. So, and, you know, again, Alcantra is being missed and dissed right now by me, but I just, you know, I don't see him as making it ahead of Shaw. The big story, as you just pointed out, David, is going to be Shaw in spring training and whether he can handle three or four different gloves. Is that Bruce's hip-hop album, missed and dissed? Is it bad that made me slightly uncomfortable when I heard him? said like I was like not not cringe worthy but just like just a little like I had a little something in my eye at least at least he acknowledged sandy alcantara in the discussion that was his point yeah yeah yeah sandy would be nice so sandy is definitely yeah let's be honest old kevin that is a 40

and slip on my part I would like to acknowledge sandy alcantara as a cubs pitcher even after they've made all the additions they've got one of they've got Edward cabrera they did not get sandy no they got the actual ace of the staff so but you know I want more more so as you should more, the Matt Shaw thing, like the Cubs believe he can play. They had him just last year as part of their lineup. They will have them this year as part of their lineup.

It's just going to be kind of a role where he plays different places, different times. And I think that because of his athleticism that's been on display, because he has a cannon and a great glove, I think it will transition well to many different

places, whether that be right field, second base, I could see it. Don't you think it also comes down to whose bat needs the most regular reps? Is it going to be Say's already proven he can be a DH at times? Michael Bush, I think, is playing at first base. That seems to be settled science. So who needs the constant play? You know, is it Sayer or is it Matt Shaw?

So that may be the question that has to get answered. Yeah, what is the projection from the Cubs on Matt Shaw? Like, did they still think that he, even though they've replaced him at their base, did they still look at him as an everyday ball player? Did they still look at him as a member of the core of this team? It's trending, no. And I would suggest that, say, Suzuki should have a lot more at bats than Matt Shaw. At least that should be the blueprint, the game plan going into next year.

But how much do they want to develop Shaw as well? Exactly. How are they projecting it's what I'm asking. Yeah, I don't know. He was obvious their plan B when last year they didn't get Alex Bregman. And I don't think abandoning developing as bad as a good idea either. So they're in lies trying to figure out how they make this happen. Like, does it become, does it become he's going to have to develop without having regular

baths or regular time in the field? Like that, we might not necessarily know until we start seeing just a pattern develop in spring training. Can I present something to you? And this is something that we talked a little bit about last year, but I just want to reemphasize these stats for Sayas Suzuki. Yes, sir. last year

as a right fielder he hit 304 with a 360 on base and a 664 slug that was in 32 games 139 plate appearances an OPS of 1,024 that's as a right fielder in 102 games

444 plate appearances as a DH he hit 232 with a 322 on base and a 423 slug that's a 745 OPS, that's a drop off of nearly 300 points. Listen, it's a smaller sample size than maybe you would like, but I think that sample size does say something.

In a third of the abats, he hit 13 home runs compared to 16 home runs as a DH. 13 home runs in right field in 139 plate appearances, 16 home runs and 444 played appearances as a DH. He was a better hitter when he played in the field. And he said as much. He talked about the benefits he got from playing in right field and also being at the plate. The bigger issue I have is his batches fell off the second half when Kyle Tucker wasn't giving him consistent protection in the lineup anymore. Like that's what we can't see.

We can't see his offensive production be married to somebody else's. Yeah, I mean, that was the theme of last year. Just extraordinary start for the offense. my God, they can't be stopped. Are they really going to average seven runs a game? And then they all fell off the table. And he's certainly symbolic of it. Let the league and RBI at the all-star break, right? What's that? Led the league in RBI's at the all-star break, right?

Sayya, that sounds right. Hit 213 after the all-star break. 2-13. The good news is defensively, you got two gold glovers out there in Ian Hap and PCA if you're not sold on, and I'm not sold on Sayas Suzuki's defense. It's opportunity costs. I get it. I would rather have him out there.

and have the hit tool. The offensive production. Because it's so good, as you just outlined very well. But that doesn't mean his defense doesn't scare me still. See, it's a real problem. It's a problem. I have a feeling, thanks to Grotty's consternation. This is a story we will continue to track.

TBC. Absolutely. Coming up next year on Rahimi Harrison Grotie, we're excited to talk to Kalin Kaler, a VSPN. She was the pool reporter for the Super Bowl and had many interesting experiences. So we'll get to all of those next.