Three trade destinations for Nationals All-Star MacKenzie Gore

Since winning the World Series in 2019, the Washington Nationals have been one of the laughing stocks of MLB. The franchise has failed to make the postseason in each of the last five seasons, and at 41-61, that trend doesn't appear to be ending this year.

The Nats are considered sellers with the July 31 trade deadline quickly approaching, and starting pitcher MacKenzie Gore is their most coveted asset. 

The fourth-year starter was a key return in the blockbuster trade that sent Juan Soto to the San Diego Padres in 2022. After two productive seasons that saw him steadily improve, Gore earned his first All-Star nod in 2025. 

With the Nationals heading nowhere again, though, it seems as though the franchise may capitalize on the 26-year-old's career-best trade value. He has a 3.52 ERA and 144 strikeouts across 117.2 innings in 21 starts. 

Gore has two more years of arbitration before hitting unrestricted free agency in 2028, so it won't be easy for rival teams to coax the talented lefty out of Washington. But with so many playoff hopefuls struggling with injuries in their rotations, one franchise is bound to pay up.

Detroit Tigers

After blazing through the first half of the season, the Detroit Tigers have struggled to just one win in their last 12 contests. While the team's ice-cold offense certainly hasn't helped, Detroit's rotation behind Tarik Skubal has left plenty to be desired. 

The Tigers boast one of baseball's premier farm systems, but with championship aspirations looming, it may be time to cash in on some of their most sought-after prospects. Gore would immediately bolster the Tigers' title hopes while giving them a legitimate second star in their rotation behind the AL Cy Young favorite.

Boston Red Sox

Another American League team with playoff aspirations, the Boston Red Sox didn't tear through the first half of the regular season in the same manner Detroit did. However, the team found new life after dealing Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants and is in the thick of the AL wild-card race.

Pitching has been a strength for the Red Sox this season, but they, too, could use another All-Star arm behind their ace. Garrett Crochet has been a dominant force, while Brayan Bello has experienced a bit of a breakout in recent weeks. With the back end of their rotation struggling to find any semblance of consistency, Gore would be a sensible addition for the Sox. 

Chicago Cubs

A championship contender with a lineup that strikes fear into their opponents every night, the Chicago Cubs' Achilles' heel could be their starting pitching. If they fail to mend the issue, that is.

Matthew Boyd has been an unforeseen redemption story with the Cubs. Shota Imanaga has also held his own in his second full season, consistently pitching deep into games. However, the rest of the team's rotation is riddled with injury and inexperience. Cade Horton and Colin Rea are solid back-end starters, but neither inspires confidence for a potential playoff series. 

Gore has the potential to be a magnificent fit with Chicago and would create a formidable starting trio with Boyd and Imanaga. If there's one National League team to keep an eye on in trade talks for Gore, it's the Cubs.