The Washington Nationals' offseason remains focused on the question: "Will the Nats trade All-Star pitcher MacKenzie Gore?" While this question remains unanswered, the result will have ripple effects throughout the rest of the organization.
While the Nationals went out and recently added to their rotation by inking lefty Foster Griffin, we do not yet know how the organization plans to add to their crop of arms outside of him. The central place a Gore trade will change the landscape of things is the Nats' starting rotation. Gore is the team's ace pitcher, and his production will certainly be missed.
From what I've gathered from MLB experts, Gore is going to get traded this offseason; it all depends on Paul Toboni and the Nats selecting the right offer. Besides Gore's situation, there are still a few questions to be answered with the Nats' starting rotation.
1. Jake Irvin and Mitchell Parker
Jake Irvin and Mitchell Parker are both question marks heading into the 2026 season. Both of them were atrocious in the 2025 season. Irvin started 33 games while posting a 5.80 ERA, a 1.43 WHIP, and 38 home runs allowed. Parker wasn't much better, also starting 33 games with a 5.68 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, and 25 home runs allowed. Irvin and Parker were eerily similar in the 2025 season; the only difference was that one was right-handed and the other left-handed.
So what do the Nats do with either of them? At the moment, the Nats don't have enough depth to cut bait with either of them. Adding former Philadelphia Phillies top prospect Giff McGarry in the Rule-5 Draft helps with depth, but he alone can't replace the "production" of two pitchers. The return of the MacKenzie Gore trade could net a starting pitcher. The Nats could have more starting pitching depth by Spring Training, but at the moment, they're stuck with Irvin and Parker.
2. Cade Cavalli
We're coming up on the 2026 season, and the Nats still don't know precisely what they have in Cade Cavalli. Having pitched just 11 career games in the Major Leagues, it's challenging to determine what his potential is. He flashed some positive traits on the mound in 2025, traits that likely will earn him starts in 2026. It wouldn't be shocking to see Cavalli in the starting rotation to begin the season in 2026. It's time for Cade to sink or swim in the big leagues. 2026 will be his age-27 season.
It's unfortunate for Cavalli, who's suffered many injuries throughout his career, but could tap into his potential with the Nats' brand new coaching staff. Seeing Cade make 25 or more starts for the Nats in 2026 would be a monumental step in his career.
3. Rotation Speculation
Speculating the Nationals' starting rotation in mid-December is brutal and arguably pointless, but I'm going to do it anyway. Assuming that the Nats deal MacKenzie Gore, he'll be out of this mock starting rotation. The Nats have Brad Lord, Cade Cavalli, Jake Irvin, Mitchell Parker, Josiah Gray, and Griff McGarry on the active roster as options for the starting rotation. DJ Herz and Trevor Williams will still be on the injured list at the beginning of 2026. I just described having Irvin and Parker in the rotation as problematic, so the Nats need to acquire starting pitchers.
Adding MacKenzie Gore to that list of names would help, but it's unrealistic to expect that. The Nats should look to add to their rotation in the return from the Gore trade and through free agency. Zach Gallen is a free agent the Nats should consider adding. He shouldn't break the bank, and has made at least 28 starts in the last four seasons. His 2025 season wasn't the best, recording a 4.83 ERA, but his ERAs in the previous three seasons were 3.65 or lower.
The Foster Griffin addition will help, but he himself is not going to turn this rotation around. Like a few more position groups, the Nationals desperately need to add depth to their starting pitching group outside of Griffin. They need to add more talent, period. Without MacKenzie Gore, the Nats lack a starting pitcher with the potential to be a number one starter.
There are a few promising prospects like Travis Sykora, Jarlin Susana, and Alex Clemmey, but each of them is years away from being a Major Leaguer. Paul Toboni and the Nats may need to look outside the walls of the organization to find more talent for the starting rotation.