As Washington eyes the future, Gore’s trade value is peaking. But is the risk worth the reward
First-time All-Star MacKenzie Gore is heading into the trade deadline as one of the most prized trade targets for teams all around the MLB. Fans around baseball are confused with Washington for even considering trading an ace-caliber left-hander under team control. With that said, this could be the best time to trade him. With Washington heading into another offseason of rebuilding, the team could receive a sizable return for Gore, thereby improving Washington’s farm system with much-needed talent and depth. This could be a franchise-altering move for a Washington organization that needs a change; however, this could hurt Washington’s chances of making the postseason soon.
Giving away your best pitcher would seem crazy, but it could be the right move. Let’s look into the pros and cons of trading away star left-hander MacKenzie Gore.
PROS:
Gore’s Value at an All-Time High
Gore is coming off his first All-Star appearance and is having a career season in 2025. With many people believing in his potential, Gore has, at times, shown utter dominance and the ability to lead an entire pitching staff. However, Washington has disappointed this season, even with the continued development of Gore, Abrams, and Wood. If Washington decides to continue the rebuild heading into 2026, Gore could be a valuable asset that would have Washington sitting nicely with a sizable prospect return.
This option is a logical option; however, it would be an insane move during the season. Even though his value is at an all-time high, this move seems unlikely, especially with Washington having questions throughout the organization, along with mid-season firings.
Saving Money for CJ Abrams and James Wood
Since winning the World Series in 2019, Washington has shown to be hesitant when it comes to paying their star players. Trea Turner and Juan Soto were dealt at a time when they were approaching free agency and Washington would not budge on their offers, forcing the team to trade them. Juan Soto’s prospect return has turned into one of the best trades in recent history, and the snowball effect could be in play here. Gore could return even more value, while also saving Washington money for their other big-time stars like CJ Abrams and James Wood.
Saving money could be smart in the long term, giving you flexibility to fill out a more complete roster while still being able to keep the offensive core of CJ Abrams and James Wood. If Gore continues his development into a new contract, he could be worth a lot more money than Washington is willing to dish out.
NOT DEALING WITH SCOTT BORAS
Scott Boras is one of the most famous agents in all of sports. He is known for being a stubborn negotiator, but he can get the most money for his clients. However, in the past few seasons, players have started to steer away from Boras. Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery are two recent examples of Boras’ clients who struggled to find that long-term deal and were not signed until the end of spring training. MacKenzie Gore has been an incredible talent this season, and if he continues, he and Boras are going to ask for a big, long-term deal. Not dealing with Scott Boras stems back to saving money.
Scott Boras is a hassle, but for the players, he is an incredible agent. Most of the time, Boras gets what he wants, and Washington might not enjoy working with an agent like Scott Boras, especially when the player in question is going to be receiving a large contract.
CONS:
Giving up Your Potential Superstar Ace
There are more cons than pros when trading away your ace All-Star. Washington has disappointed this season, currently in last place in the NL East. However, they have a future core of MacKenzie Gore, CJ Abrams, and James Wood that can continue to develop and return this organization to its winning ways. Developing the minor league system is nice, but if Washington would utilize free agency during the off-season, it could start to put pieces around the young core.
I do not have to explain why this is a con. Trading away MacKenzie Gore could be a huge mistake, but it will also develop a disappointed fan base that has been desperate for moral wins this season.
CONTROLLABLE STAR
One of the reasons why Gore is such an amazing trade piece is because of his controllable contract. Gore will not become a free agent until after the 2027 season and will be making significantly less than he would be making under a new, long-term deal. With Gore having a controllable contract, this gives Washington a window for signing free agents and improving the roster through free agency. Washington has shown in the past to be hesitant on spending money; however, with a new front office coming in 2026, this could be the start of something great.
Fans asked for the spending to happen last off-season, and at some point, fans will grow impatient with the team’s willingness to continue the rebuild.
SAILING THE WHITE FLAG FOR 2026
MacKenzie Gore is talented enough to go to a contending team and contribute right away. The Chicago Cubs are very interested in Gore, meaning the prospect return would be a haul, considering the amount of talent in Chicago’s farm system. However, having Gore on the roster in 2026 and beyond means you are trying to compete. As of right now, Washington has no long-term options on the big league roster that would be able to contribute at the level of MacKenzie Gore. Prospects such as Jarlin Susana and Travis Sykora have potential, but there is no timetable for the prospects to make their debuts.
Having Gore on the roster heading into 2026 gives Washington a better chance of competing. This is what fans want, and this is what I believe to be the right decision.
CONCLUSION
Whatever Washington’s decision on Gore ends up being, he has been a shining star for Washington this season. If he is traded, the prospect haul will be outstanding and should help Washington form a more complete team in the future. However, trading away your star ace could send Washington back a few seasons as they try to find the next guy to lead the pitching staff. I would keep Gore, and I would extend him when given the chance. He is one of the best left-handers in baseball and is a staple of Washington baseball. He should keep developing and keep performing at a high level, and he could be essential in making the playoffs within the next two seasons.