The Nationals roster many players right now that would have been considered as tradeable just a few weeks ago. Some common names include Josh Bell and Nathaniel Lowe. However, the name I angle to is MacKenzie Gore. The Nationals ace has had a good season, but with recent woes I wonder if he should have got dealt in a more aggressive fashion. Contending team very well may have paid up.
Why the Nationals Should Have Traded MacKenzie Gore
Our ace, MacKenzie Gore, has been lights out, for the most part. His flaws have come out as of recent. Three of his last four starts had him allowing 6+ runs. He is averaging less than 4 innings per start in that time. The issue of longevity has remained as issue for MacKenzie Gore.
Back in 2024, Gore followed July 4th with 7/8 consecutive starts of 3+ earned runs. This followed a 2023 season that was marked with inconsistency. It seems that while he is dominant at his best, he has been unable to maintain his best over the course of a full season. In this case, he could have been dealt.
Many top contenders are always looking for starting pitching, and MacKenzie Gore would have been a fit. The price he would have commanded could have been inflated in negotiations, and the Nationals could have pivoted to pack their farm system even deeper with talent. Anyway, the Nationals still own his contract for another two years, so he will remain.
Front Office Outlook
Interim GM Mike DeBartolo had stated prior to the deadline that MacKenzie Gore would not be dealt. In this time he said it was "not a focus of mine" but he was hearing calls to at least do his due diligence. As Gore has been struggling, fans are saying that DeBartolo perhaps should have listened a bit more closely.
Though the Nationals have Gore for another two years, the Nationals re-build to excellence may take longer than this timeframe allows for. If Washington wants Gore to be a part of their future, he will have to be signed. Given his performance, it would be much in question as to what deal he would command. The Nationals very well could have sold high on MacKenzie Gore, but now they sit with their stock with an unknown of which way its value will shift.
Surely, the Nationals probably never received any aggressive offers for MacKenzie Gore. If they had, it would have hit the news cycle. That being said, if DeBartolo wanted to consciously trade Gore, higher value may have been commanded.
My Analysis
In my eyes, Gore appears to be a gamble that the Nationals are making. He is still young and can get even better. He can also get worse. You do not know for sure. He was an All-Star this year. If they want to win a World Series, they will have to sign him, or trade him for value, and perhaps the Nationals will yet win this outcome.
Do you think the Nationals should have traded MacKenzie Gore? How good do you think he is, or will become? Let me know on X @jetbets17