MacKenzie

Gore

Gore has been at the epicenter of trade chatter for weeks this offseason, with The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon reporting earlier this week that more than half the league has at least checked in on his availability. ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel add that the Nationals are listening, but their asking price remains “understandably high.” The 26-year-old southpaw was brilliant in the first half of last season to earn his first All-Star Game selection before fading after the break and missing time with shoulder inflammation. Even so, he’ll be just 27 on Opening Day and profiles as a prime target for clubs unwilling to meet the stratospheric costs attached to the marquee arms in free agency or on the trade block. It also becomes a massive early decision for new president of baseball operations Paul Toboni as he spearheads the club’s rebuilding effort.

The 26-year-old left-hander is still under contract for two more seasons, so the Nationals are banking on being able to get a sizable return for him in a trade and create a future lineup and rotation that fit the mold of the new front office. Gore struggled down the stretch in 2025 and finished with a 4.17 ERA, but he did post a career-high strikeout rate. The former top prospect will certainly have plenty of suitors on the market, and teams like the Mets and Red Sox could be tempted to trade some of their top pitching prospects for a chance to “fix” the former top pitching prospect in baseball.

Gore won’t make a final start Sunday after giving up four runs in two innings against the Braves on Monday. The Nationals could just use Brad Lord, tonight’s schedule starter, on four days’ rest then. Gore, who missed two starts at the beginning of the month with shoulder tendinitis, ends the year 5-15 with a 4.17 ERA. That doesn’t look like much now, but he did make the All-Star team before fading, and his 27.2% strikeout rate is a new high.

Gore served up a first-inning solo homer to Ronald Acuña Jr. and things only went downhill from there in the abbreviated outing as Atlanta tacked on another run in the second before chasing him from the contest in the ensuing frame after just 71 pitches (48 strikes). The 26-year-old southpaw battled some serious control issues in this one, handing out four free passes, and only notched three strikeouts. The unexpected implosion breaks up a decent late-season stretch for Gore since returning from the injured list back in early September. He’ll attempt to close out the season on a high note when he faces the White Sox on Sunday afternoon.

Gore departed a scoreless game, so he wasn’t involved in the decision. He ended up allowing two hits, walking three and striking out five. He had 13 whiffs, with eight of the coming on the 18 changeups he threw. His velocity has been down a little in both starts since he returned from shoulder inflammation, but it hasn’t posed him any problems. He’s slated to face the Braves again next week.

Gore struck out four batters on the night while issuing a pair of free passes. All of the damage done against him came in the opening inning as Heriberto Hernandez delivered a sacrifice fly and Eric Wagaman added an RBI single. He settled in nicely afterwards though and finished his day with four shutout innings. The 26-year-old southpaw got 11 whiffs on 78 pitches in the contest — six on his fastball — while posting a CSW of 29 percent. He’ll try to get back in the win column as he carries a 4.14 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and a 177/57 K/BB ratio (152 1/3 innings) into Tuesday’s battle against the Braves.

Orlando Ribalta was sent down last night to make room. Gore will return tonight having missed just two starts with shoulder inflammation. Fingers crossed that it works out for the Nationals, since it seems pretty risky.

It winds up being a minimum stay on the injured list for Gore, which is an extremely encouraging sign after he was diagnosed with shoulder inflammation. The 26-year-old southpaw will attempt to finish on a high note after struggling to a bloated 7.54 ERA across 37 innings over eight second-half starts. He should be picked up in shallow fantasy leagues where he may have been dropped already.

Gose could pull off a quick return from shoulder inflammation next week if the Nationals let him. His outings would likely be rather brief, so he might not be of much use in mixed leagues.

Gore intends to pitch again this season after being placed on the injured list Saturday. He’ll be eligible to return on Sept. 11, though he probably won’t be back that soon.