The New York Yankees are monitoring Washington Nationals starting pitcher Mackenzie Gore among others ahead of the 2026 season
The MacKenzie Gore situation may have an official new suitor emerging in the offseason sweepstakes ahead of the Washington Nationals ahead of spring training officially underway starting February 21 against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Jack Curry of YES Network reported on Monday evening that the New York Yankees have "had conversations" with the Nationals regarding pitcher MacKenzie Gore as they continue to monitor the starting pitching market.
"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."
The ongoing question mark surrounding Gore, whether he is moved ahead of Opening Day or becomes a trade deadline target, has left a dark cloud over the Nationals with limited acquisitions since Paul Toboni and Blake Butera were announced by the organization. But with no need to make an imminent move, how discussions with the Yankees materialize as they evaluate multiple targets is worth tracking over the next week with others cautioning a patient approach by the Nationals' front office.
Gore finished third on the team in innings pitched, leading the club and 22nd across the MLB with 185 strikeouts while finishing 5-15 with a 4.17 ERA after starting hot then crashing to end the 2025 season.
"This is another case where the Nationals don’t have to make a move right now, since Gore is controlled through 2028," MLBTradeRumors.com wrote in a fan chat on Saturday. "If another team stepped up with a huge offer, the Nats wouldn’t hesitate to deal Gore, but only in that circumstance. And Gore has more than enough value on his own that he wouldn’t need to be linked to another big trade chip."
Toboni previously addressed gauging Gore's trade interest with reports that over half the league was at least inquiring about his status.
“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.
“What I’m tasked with and what the group here is tasked with is we want to hold a high bar but also, we’re going to listen because that’s part of our job. That’s exactly what I told MacKenzie. We’re really excited to have him in our organization and one of the things I think I’m most excited about with him is I still think he’s still not fully who he can be as a pitcher. I’m really excited about the development process for him too assuming he’s in a Nats uniform next year. I think we’re going to get the best version of MacKenzie that we’ve seen in his career.”