Texas Rangers All-Star left-hander mackenzie gore In a five-for-one trade with Washington Nationals On Thursday.
In exchange for Gore, who will turn 27 in February, the Nationals received a handful of prospects from the Rangers, including the 18-year-old third baseman. gavin fienWho was the 12th overall pick in last year’s amateur draft.
Gore, who has two years of team control left, will make a projected $4.7 million in 2026 and could help the front end of the Rangers’ rotation. After an All-Star first half for the Nationals in 2025, he slumped to a 6.75 ERA in the second half and finished the season at 5–15 with a 4.17 ERA and 185 strikeouts in 159⅔ innings in 30 starts.
“We’re in a moment right now where we have a team that is capable of winning and winning championships,” Rangers general manager Ross Fenstermaker said. “And when you add a player of Mackenzie Gore’s status, it’s not that you look at what you’re giving up, but you’re excited about what you’re bringing in and what it does for the clubhouse, what it does for our fan base, what it does for the excitement around the club.”
Gore was the No. 3 pick in the 2017 draft, but he didn’t find major league success until 2024. Gore has been solid the last two years, ranking 23rd in pitcher WAR over that span, but hasn’t made the leap to the front-line starter that was envisioned a few years ago.
Gore throws at least 80% fastball/slider to the left side and at least 80% fastball/curveball to the right side, so developing a fourth viable pitch shape could be important.
Overall, he is 26-41 with a 4.19 ERA in four seasons.
“Our goal is to help him prepare for a full season,” Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young said. “But we hope, knowing the guy he is, the competitiveness, the desire to be great, he fits all the criteria of great starting pitchers and we’re excited to help him.”
In addition to Feeney, the Nationals will get a right-back Alejandro Rosariofirst baseman Abimelech Ortizshortstop Devin Fitz-Gerald and outfielder yeremy cabrera In the deal.
“With this return we see high-level talent, but we also see interesting depth,” said Washington president of baseball operations Paul Toboni. “We saw untapped potential in McKenzie, so we basically made him get the level of return we wanted.”
ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel contributed to this report.
