Days after the New York Yankees were linked the Washington Nationals pitcher MacKenzie Gore, the New York Mets are said to also be evaluating the trade candidate.
With the starting pitching market thinning out with Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Freddy Peralta one of the prominent names frequently discussed, Washington Nationals pitcher MacKenzie Gore has continued to draw trade interest across the league with now both New York teams reportedly inquiring around the starter to open February.
Days after the New York Yankees were said to be evaluating Gore, a report pointed to the Mets as a team also inquiring about his status ahead of spring training.
"The Mets recently spoke to the NL East rival Washington Nationals about left-handed starting pitcher MacKenzie Gore," Pat Ragazzo reported on Saturday. "However, the asking price for Gore is said to be astronomically high and nothing appears to be close on this front. Gore, 26, comes with two more years of club control. The Mets have discussed their top prospects in potential deals for pitching help, but Nolan McLean and Carson Benge are considered to be off limits."
It marks the latest speculation around when, not if, the Nationals pull the trigger on a trade to move the starter who has been linked to trade speculation all offseason with continued questions as to whether he is moved prior to Opening Day or near the midseason trade deadline. But with the market thinning and the Nationals prioritizing the return haul for its prized pitcher, it remains clear there is no shortage of interest with teams still finalizing their starting rotations.
Jack Curry of YES Network previously reported on the Yankees' discussions around Gore earlier in the week.
"They also said you can make that statement about other teams. They've had conversations with the [Milwaukee] Brewers about [Freddy] Peralta, who would also be a really nice acquisition. He's got one year left before he becomes a free agent," Cabrera said. "They've had conversations with the [Washington] Nationals about MacKenzie Gore. I think any pitcher out there, any starting pitcher that could possibly be acquired, I think the Yankees are having those conversations."
President of baseball operations Paul Toboni previously discussed the process of evaluating interest for Gore during Winter Meetings.
“He’s really good and so it doesn’t surprise me that teams are reaching out on him. I had a conversation with MacKenzie the other day and I said hey, before we really even hop into this, this is going to be a thing. Teams are going to call about you because you’re really good,” new Nationals president of baseball operations Paul Toboni said during Wednesday’s edition of the Baseball Tonight podcast.
Gore was also one of six players who avoided arbitration earlier this week after agreeing to $5.6 million, per Robert Murray.
He is coming off an All Star appearance after a strong first half of the 2025 season before struggling after the midseason break. Gore finished 2025 with a 4.17 ERA with 185 strikeouts to 64 balls over 30 starts and 159.2 innings pitched. Gore will also be eligible for salary arbitration for the final time next offseason, but whether that happens in DC remains to be seen.