MacKenzie Gore was one of the starting pitchers most mentioned in trade rumors last July.
In the end, just as was the case for every big-name starting pitcher, he wasn’t traded, largely because it was perceived
that the Nationals were asking for more in return than teams were willing to give.
Gore had good numbers at the end of July: 22 starts, 3.80 ERA, 3.51 FIP, 1.293 WHIP, 148 strikeouts in 123 innings.
Many of those teams might have breathed a sigh of relief after seeing what happened to Gore after the deadline. In his first post-deadline start he got torched by the A’s (12 hits, eight runs, no strikeouts in three innings) and overall he posted a 5.40 ERA in eight post-deadline starts.
So which is the real Gore?
He was the Padres’ No. 1 pick (third overall) in the 2017 Draft out of high school in North Carolina and came to the Nationals in the Juan Soto deal.
Overall his numbers have been good, not great: 4,19 ERA, 1.353 WHIP over 105 career appearances (102 starts). Despite the bad last two months of 2025, it was still a 3.0 bWAR season. He has a good pitch arsenal:
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These things argue for acquiring Gore: He’s left-handed and is still fairly young, turning 27 in February. He’s got two years left of team control and is projected by MLB Trade Rumors to make $4.7 million in 2026, a very reasonable contract.
Further, the Nats have new executive and field management and might be willing to deal.
Once again, I don’t have a specific trade offer in mind for Gore, but he could make a good addition to the 2026 Cubs rotation. Have at it.
