The weekend before the Winter Meetings, there was an initial report that three-time National League Cy Young candidate Zac Gallen was finalizing a multi-year deal with the Chicago Cubs. It also included word of Gallen making over $22 million per season with his new deal, but the idea of the deal being finalized was quickly debunked. While Gallen remains on the free-agent market, talk of his potential deal served as a reminder that the Houston Astros might not be able to afford him this winter.
The Astros entered the offseason with less than $20 million in space before reaching the first level of the CBT, and they have no plans of going over this offseason.