The subject of trade rumors for some time, Nationals left-hander MacKenzie Gore is on his way to the Rangers in exchange for a package of five prospects, a source told MLB.com insider Mark Feinsand. The teams have not confirmed the deal.
Washington’s return package is headlined by shortstop Gavin Fien, the No. 12 overall pick in the 2025 Draft and the Rangers’ No. 2 prospect per MLB Pipeline, per Feinsand. The other prospects heading to the Nats are right-hander Alejandro Rosario (Texas’ No. 6 prospect), infielder Devin Fitz-Gerald (No. 12), outfielder Yeremy Cabrera (No. 16) and first baseman/outfielder Abimelec Ortiz (No. 18).
The potential trade buzz around Gore began at the 2025 Trade Deadline. He had the appeal of being one of the top controllable starters — he is signed for 2026 for $5.6 million, and has one more year of arbitration after that.
Gore was named the Nationals’ Opening Day starter for the first time in 2025, his fourth MLB season and his third season in Washington after being acquired from San Diego in the 2022 Juan Soto blockbuster.
Pitching for the 96-loss Nationals, Gore went 5-15 with a 4.17 ERA in 30 starts during his age-26 season (he will turn 27 during Spring Training). He threw 159 2/3 innings, a slight dip from the previous season because of time on the injured list (right ankle impingement, left shoulder inflammation).
Gore began the year with a Nationals-record 13 strikeouts on Opening Day against the Phillies. From there, he struck out a career-high 185 batters – good for fourth among National League southpaws. He also ranked third in the NL (minimum 150 innings) with 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings, up from a 9.8 rate the previous season.
He looked like a Cy Young contender through the first two months, with a 2.87 ERA and 108 strikeouts in his first 13 starts of the season that helped him earn his first All-Star selection. Gore scuffled in the second half as the injuries flared up; he went 1-7 with a 6.75 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 11 starts after the break.
Gore throws a five-pitch mix that features a four-seamer (which averaged 95.3 mph last season), curveball, slider, changeup and cutter. He was the No. 3 overall pick by the Padres in the 2017 Draft out of Whiteville (N.C.) High School, and he was named the ‘17 Gatorade Player of the Year.
