MacKenzie Gore Could Be the Best Pitcher Traded This Winter
With two seasons of team control remaining, the Nationals lefty should be a hot commodity this winter.
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Each winter, many high-profile names get tossed around in trade discussions, with this year being no different. Tarik Skubal, Joe Ryan, Freddy Peralta, and others have all seen their names floated with a cocktail of prospects predicted to come back in return.
While we do see some of these deals cross the finish line, they aren’t the easiest to pull off. Either the asking price is too high for one year, or teams decide to clutch onto their prospects more than they should. Over the past few days, it is looking more and more unlikely that Skubal or Peralta depart their contending teams this winter.
However, the chances of MacKenzie Gore getting moved keep going up.
We all know how expensive it can be to sign a pitcher via free agency. Not only the money, but the risk from long-term deals is also something many franchises would rather not take on. So, with two seasons of team control left, the 26-year-old lefty will be a hot commodity this winter.
Why Would the Nationals Trade Gore?
I’m sure you probably noticed the Nationals’ 2025 season was a dumpster fire. Another losing season led to multiple changes in the front office and on the coaching staff as new life is trying to be brought into D.C.
Why the Nationals were so bad is a list so long only Santa can top it. But, one of the main reasons was a pitching staff that was not up to par with even below-average teams. So, why would they move their 26-year-old ace with multiple years of control?
To me, it all comes down to timing. Washington is not a piece here and a bullpen arm there away from constructing a competitive team. The number of holes they have to fill before they can be seriously discussed as a playoff team is too many for the current timeline.
Yes, they have a young offensive core that is beginning to establish itself, but their pitching is still far behind. Their two best pitching prospects are both dealing with injury, while their bullpen is looking like it will need a complete makeover.
I can hear you right now. WHY NOT EXTEND HIM THEN? Well, the last few long-term deals to pitchers in Washington might give them some hesitation. With the number of needs the team has, and other core players needing extensions soon, I think Washington avoids a contract extension, capitalizes on Gore’s value, and continues to better understand what they have versus what they need.
Moving Gore with two years of control is obviously more valuable than doing so next winter. Washington needs to add more to their lineup and farm system, and Gore is by far the best of their realistic trade options to bring back an impact return.
I actually think trading him this winter will bring in more value than doing so at the deadline. I know his second half in 2025 was alarming, but look around the league. How many other arms with youth plus upside do you see getting moved? More teams have openings now, and more teams have a better understanding of what they expect going into 2026.
I’d love for Gore to stay in Washington, sign an extension, and be part of the next Nationals playoff team. But, with a new GM and manager, I expect a slew of changes to come. I think the front office understands where they are in their team life cycle and how far away they are from competing.
Moving Gore would allow Washington to add two or three highly regarded prospects to help strengthen their next competitive window, which is likely two or more years away.
How Gore Affects the Starting Pitching Market
Every year, we see starters sign for bigger deals than most expected. Innings cost a lot of money, and pitchers often get injured. It’s a combination that scares many teams away from even considering the kind of five-plus year contract it would take to land a top-flight free agent.
How often do we see the top arms land in a smaller market? We know the list of teams that will likely sign the names you always go after on MLB The Show. The trade market can be a better avenue for smaller-market teams to acquire talent without having to sacrifice big money and a risky contract. Just a few teenagers, instead.
Sandy Alcantara, Sonny Gray, and Mitch Keller, along with Peralta, Skubal, and Ryan, are some of the potential starters who could get moved. I think Sandy stays, at least to begin the season, as do Peralta and Skubal.
That leaves you with 36-year-old Gray at $35 million, Keller, and Ryan. Keller and Ryan each have three years of control, which would make the return pretty steep, especially for Ryan. Keller would be a nice addition, but I see Gore as having more upside.
Let’s say Framber Valdez, Dylan Cease, Ranger Suárez, and Zac Gallen all sign elsewhere. What does your favorite team do next? How much better are the remaining free agent options, and how much do their contract demands hurt what you can do elsewhere to build a team?
We really need to focus on the value here. Player A being better than Player B is not enough reason to want one over the other. Not for a discussion like this. Player talent + contract money + term + age is the equation you need to compare to MacKenzie Gore’s talent + two years + modest money at 26 years old. Gore is probably the safer bet.
I think a number of teams will be willing to trade for players with lower annual salaries and shorter terms, especially with uncertainty around the next CBA. Sure, some teams will see this winter as (potentially) the last offseason to sign mega deals and do so before any restrictions could come into play.
But, we know the list of teams that could operate in that matter, and it’s short.
Final Thoughts
MacKenzie Gore’s prospect shine had worn off when he was traded from San Diego to Washington. Many still saw his upside, but the development path took a few bizarre turns. I think it’s okay for the Nationals to develop and fip him, if that’s the route they choose.
Being realistic about where their team stands is crucial for front offices that can’t use free agency to fix all their problems. The Nationals are not in a position to talk themselves into a new contract that would keep Gore in D.C. long into the future. Still, they need to find a way to help their future, and he remains the best resource with which to do so.
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