Yankees Called Top Landing Spot For Talented Left-Hander
Could the New York Yankees be bolstering their starting rotation with a big trade in January? On Tuesday, Bleacher Report’s MLB writer Tim Kelly identified the Yankees as the top landing spot and “best trade fit” for left-hander MacKenzie Gore of the Washington Nationals.
“There’s a new regime in Washington, with Paul Toboni now taking over as the president of baseball operations for the Nationals,” Kelly wrote. “For as good of a job as his predecessor Mike Rizzo did in the trade return he got from the San Diego Padres for Juan Soto and Josh Bell in August of 2022, Toboni doesn’t have the same vested interest in keeping pieces from that deal, such as MacKenzie Gore.”
“Trading for Gore would give the Yankees a pitcher that’s made at least 30 starts in consecutive seasons,” Kelly continued. “He did struggle after the All-Star Break, but the pitcher who posted a 3.02 ERA over 19 first-half starts looked like a top-of-the-rotation arm. Gore could benefit from going to a contending organization that might help to unlock his ace potential on a more consistent basis. The Yankees, though, are just one of many teams that Gore makes sense for. The former first-round pick will turn 27 in February and has two remaining years before free agency.”
Gore emerged as a top prospect after the San Diego Padres selected him third overall in the 2017 MLB Draft from Whiteville High School in North Carolina. He debuted with the Padres on April 15, 2022, showing early promise as a left-handed starter with a strong fastball and breaking pitches. Later that year, on August 2, Gore was traded to the Washington Nationals in a blockbuster deal involving Juan Soto.
In Washington, Gore developed into a rotation mainstay. Over his first three seasons with the team, he compiled a mixed record but steadily increased his innings and strikeouts. The 2025 campaign marked a key step, as he earned his first All-Star selection. Starting 30 games, Gore posted a 5-15 record with a 4.17 ERA, 185 strikeouts, and 159 2/3 innings pitched, though injuries sidelined him twice (once for left shoulder inflammation in late August and again for right ankle impingement in September). He finished strong after returning, contributing to the Nationals’ late-season efforts.
As of December 2025, Gore’s career totals stand at 26-41 with a 4.19 ERA and 589 strikeouts across 105 appearances. The 26-year-old has attracted significant trade interest from contenders seeking young pitching talent.