New Intel From Insider Could Mean Red Sox Pursue Pablo López, MacKenzie Gore

A new report from New York Post‘s Jon Heyman could mean that the Boston Red Sox are looking at Pablo López and MacKenzie Gore as starting pitching targets on the trade market.

Heyman asserted that while everyone’s hoping the Detroit Tigers and Milwaukee Brewers are open to trading Tarik Skubal and Freddy Peralta, respectively, it’s unlikely that either ace will be moved.

The same can be said for Miami Marlins pitchers Sandy Alcántara and Edward Cabrera, per Heyman.

However, Heyman wrote that, “two star starters with better chances to be traded are probably Pablo López and MacKenzie Gore.”

Heyman’s report is relevant to Boston because many fans and pundits assume the Red Sox will be looking for another starting pitcher on the trade market, not in free agency.

Red Sox CBO Craig Breslow is expected to use the bulk of Boston’s remaining free-agent budget to go after one or two impact bats.

López and Gore, both in their prime years, have carved distinct paths toward stardom.

López, 29, burst onto the scene with the Miami Marlins in 2018, posting a 3.83 career ERA through his early years there. Traded to the Minnesota Twins in January 2023, he quickly became a cornerstone, signing a four-year extension that April. His 2023 campaign featured a no-hitter and All-Star nod, while 2024 brought a career-high 15 wins over 185 innings. Injuries hampered 2025, limiting him to 14 starts with a sharp 2.74 ERA and 73 strikeouts in 75.2 innings before a forearm strain sidelined him in September.

Gore’s road started with top-prospect hype in San Diego, debuting in 2022 before a blockbuster trade to Washington that summer. His initial seasons showed promise amid control issues, with a 4.42 ERA in 2023 and 3.90 in 2024, amassing 181 strikeouts that year. In 2025, Gore elevated his game, earning his first All-Star selection in July through refined breaking pitches and a career-low walk rate. He struck out 185 batters over 30 starts but endured a tough 5-15 record and 4.17 ERA, plagued by scant run support and a late ankle impingement. Now 26, Gore’s swing-and-miss arsenal positions him as an intriguing target for the Red Sox.