Nationals Exchange MacKenzie Gore for Five Rangers Players: Source Reveals

The Washington Nationals have traded left-handed pitcher MacKenzie Gore to the Texas Rangers, acquiring five prospects in return. This deal was confirmed by a league source to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

MacKenzie Gore’s Journey to the Texas Rangers

Gore, 26 years old, joined the Nationals after being part of the high-profile Juan Soto trade with the San Diego Padres in August 2022. He has made 89 starts for Washington from 2023 to 2025. The Rangers have added him to strengthen their pitching rotation.

Prospects Included in the Trade

The Nationals are set to receive a mix of promising players in the trade. Key prospects include:

• Gavin Fien: A first-round infielder out of Great Oak High School in California, selected 12th overall in 2025.
• Alejandro Rosario: A right-handed pitcher who was picked in the fifth round of the 2023 draft.
• Devin Fitz-Gerald: An infielder chosen in the fifth round of the 2024 draft.
• Abimelec Ortiz: A versatile first baseman/outfielder.
• Yeremy Cabrera: An outfielder with potential upside.

Reasons Behind the Trade

The Nationals have been contemplating a rebuild and sought to capitalize on the relatively thin free-agent market for starting pitchers. MacKenzie Gore is entering his age-27 season with two years remaining before reaching free agency. His arbitration salary is set at $5.6 million, making him an attractive option for teams looking to enhance their rotation.

Gore had an impressive first half last season, earning his first All-Star selection with a 3.02 ERA over 19 starts and racking up 138 strikeouts. However, injuries in the second half of the season—a shoulder issue in August and an ankle injury in September—interrupted his performance. Despite these setbacks, his velocity and movement improvements have maintained his value.

The Rangers’ Pitching Needs

The Texas Rangers are addressing their need for starting pitching. With Jacob deGrom’s strong performance—30 starts and a 2.97 ERA—now a concern, and Nathan Eovaldi sidelined due to a right rotator cuff strain, Gore’s addition is timely. He is expected to fill a crucial middle rotation spot alongside Jack Leiter, bolstering their starting lineup in the American League West.

New president of baseball operations, Paul Toboni, acknowledged that while Gore could stay, securing significant talent made the trade worthwhile.