The Washington Nationals are officially in rebuild mode, which is why left-hander MacKenzie Gore has emerged as a possible trade candidate.
Gore, who will turn 27 in February, has two years left on his contract. However, his name came up a lot in trade rumors during this year’s Winter Meetings, suggesting that the Nationals might be looking to trade him for young players with more years of control.
But where could Gore end up?
MacKenzie Gore Next Team Odds & Favorites
The BetMGM online sportsbook doesn’t offer odds for Gore’s next team, but this market could be more open compared to Tarik Skubal’s next team trade destinations.
For one, Gore has a much more attractive deal. He will make $6,500,000 in 2026 and is arbitration eligible for 2027.
Gore also doesn’t have nearly the same resume as Skubal, a two-time Cy Young winner. Gore posted a 4.17 ERA and a 3.0 bWAR in 30 starts during the 2025 season, striking out 185 batters in 159 2/3 innings. He faded after a hot start, which has been a trend during his four MLB campaigns.
The team that trades for Gore has to believe in its pitching development. They have to think there is untapped potential in Gore, who was drafted No. 3 overall by the San Diego Padres in 2017. It also helps that Gore is a cheaper trade target, which opens his market to many more teams.
I suspect the top potential destinations for Gore are teams that need starting pitching and have a solid stockpile of assets in the farm system. I’d project these teams as the favorites to trade for Gore in a fluid market:
- Baltimore Orioles
- Boston Red Sox
- New York Yankees
MacKenzie Gore Next Team Prediction
I predict that the Orioles will trade for MacKenzie Gore before the 2026 MLB season.
All signs point toward the Orioles wanting to bounce back after a 75-win campaign last year. Baltimore has made offensive additions by trading for slugging outfielder Taylor Ward and signing first baseman Pete Alonso to a five-year, $155 million deal.
The Orioles also brought in closer Ryan Helsley, who won National League Reliever of the Year in 2024. Baltimore’s World Series odds have gone from +3000 to +2200 since the start of the offseason, indicating how much the market respects the additions.
Despite all that, the Orioles need starters more than anything else. Trevor Rogers and Kyle Bradish are currently slated to lead the rotation. Baltimore starters ranked 24th in MLB with a 4.65 ERA last year, and I’m not sure how much better that clip will be in 2026 without another move or two.
The Orioles could sign a free agent, but will they have the appetite after all their moves? A trade seems the most likely solution.
Baltimore has the assets to get a deal done and has already shown it is willing to trade for a starter. That’s how the team acquired Rogers at the trade deadline in 2024.
For Gore, it wouldn’t take much to drive to Baltimore.
It’s a natural fit.
MacKenzie Gore’s next team prediction: Baltimore Orioles
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