Report: Diamondbacks eyeing Gallardo, Maeda

Despite shipping right-hander Jeremy Hellickson to Philadelphia on Saturday, the Arizona Diamonbacks are still interested in bolstering their rotation this offseason, whether through free agency or the NPB posting system.

Yovani Gallardo, who rejected a one-year, $15.8-million qualifying offer from the Texas Rangers on Friday, is one of the pitchers Arizona is targeting, according to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick. Acquired by the Rangers last offseason, Gallardo enjoyed a solid season in his home state, crafting a 3.42 ERA (124 ERA+) with a 1.42 WHIP over 33 starts. If he signs with Arizona, though, the Diamondbacks will forfeit their top unprotected pick in the 2016 draft.

Though the club may not be able to afford one of the pricier free-agent starters, like Jordan Zimmermann or Johnny Cueto, general manager Dave Stewart indicated earlier this week that the club has been keeping an eye on Japanese right-hander Kenta Maeda, as well.

Expected to be posted by Hiroshima Carp in late November, the 27-year-old earned his second career Sawamura Award - Japan's Cy Young equivalent - after crafting a 2.09 ERA with a 1.01 WHIP, while allowing just five home runs across 29 starts in 2015. Since his 2008 debut, Maeda owns a 2.39 ERA with a 3.87 strikeout-to-walk ratio across 1,509 2/3 innings in Nippon Professional Baseball.

Under the revised posting system, Maeda would be free to sign with any MLB club prepared to pay the $20-million release fee. Had Maeda been posted prior to the 2014 campaign, however, only the MLB team that submitted the highest blind posting bid would be allowed to negotiate with him.