In what’s been a highly active trade market over the past few weeks, the Rangers acquired left-hander MacKenzie Gore from the Nationals on January 22. It was a massive deal, as Texas sent five prospects to Washington. The highlight of the return was Gavin Fien, the Rangers’ first-round pick from 2025.
The Rangers’ Return
- SP MacKenzie Gore (4.17 ERA, 185 K over 159 IP)
The Nationals acquired MacKenzie Gore, then a rookie, in the 2022 trade of Juan Soto that netted Washington James Wood, CJ Abrams, and the left-hander. Gore was, at the time, one of the best pitching prospects in all of baseball, a status he largely held since he was drafted by San Diego out of high school.
There’ve been hiccups along the way but Gore has been a highly-effective left-hander — and the now-former ace of the Nationals’ rotation this past year. Across 159 innings this past year, Gore posted Chase% and Whiff% that came just shy of 30%, well above the MLB median.
His .318 wOBA ranked 78th in MLB last season among starters with 100+ IP, below the league median.
Gore has a very good fastball, one that plays up thanks to plus extension. It’s a mid-90s offering that has riding action and comes from a high arm slot.
Aside from the four-seamer, Gore will largely rely on three secondary offerings: a slider, a changeup, and a hard, shortened-up, 12-6 curveball. That curveball sits in the low-80s, fitting the modern lean towards faster curveballs that are not the big benders of the past.
The 26-year-old used that curveball a lot more in 2025, 24% in 2025, and up from 19.4%. It’s a pitch that mostly sees usage against right-handed hitters but one he’ll use time to time against lefties, too.
What has hurt Gore hard is two things: walks and home runs.
His BB% of 9.3% was below the league median. Additionally, his tendency to work high with the fastball — which he has to do, to set up everything else in his arsenal — can burn him from time to time. Gore gave up 20 home runs (1.1 HR/9) last season, which may sound like a lot. However, it wasn’t that high, compared to league norms.
Gore has two years of team control remaining.
The Nationals’ Return
- INF Gavin Fien (.220/.267/.341, 4 XBH over 10 GP (A))
- SP Alejandro Rosario (Did not pitch in 2025)
- 1B Abimelec Ortiz (.257/.356/.479, 25 HR, 53 XBH over 130 GP (AA and AAA)
- INF Devin Fitz-Gerald (.302/.428/.482, 6 HR, 13 XBH over 41 GP (A))
- OF Yeremy Cabrera (.256/.364/.366, 8 HR, 23 XBH over 103 GP (A))
The big name is Gavin Fien, the Rangers’ 2025 first-round pick out of high school this past season. A projectable frame and power potential, Fien did fine in his brief pro debut. Fien posted a sub-30% Whiff% in the Carolina League and netted himself four extra-base hits in 10 games in what the Nationals hope will be a taste of things to come.
Fien, at 6’3” and 200 pounds, played infield and outfield in high school and very well may be a third baseman long-term. The good news is that he has a strong arm, which should make a potential transition work.
Aside from Fien, the Nationals received four of Texas’ top prospects. Not all are top-10 prospects. However, quite a few are interesting projects.
One who isn’t a project is first baseman Abimelec Ortiz, who had a standout year between Double-A and Triple-A. Low swing-and-miss (22.5% Whiff%) with Round Rock, bat speed, and a power-hitter stroke that netted him over 50 extra-base hits and 25 home runs between the two levels.
He’s likely an option for the Nationals right away.
Alejandro Rosario missed all of 2025 due to injury. A fifth-round pick out of Miami (FL) in 2023, Rosario put up eye-popping strikeout numbers in A-ball back in 2024, as the right-hander struck out 129 over 88.1 IP between Down East and Hickory.
Cabrera is a speedster, one who made consistent contact, took his walks, and stole 43 bases in Low-A Hickory this past year.
But perhaps the best name out of the five, aside from Fien, is infielder Devin Fitz-Gerald. Fitz-Gerald is a baseball guy, as he’s the son of Stoneman Douglas HS head coach Todd Fitz-Gerald, the same individual who coached Jesus Luzardo and Roman Anthony in high school.
Fitz-Gerald fits a true analytics dream of a hitter. High take hitter, as we noted in our Rangers farm recap, and one who hit for power in his abbreviated pro debut this past year.
Analysis
Given what the Nationals are staring down, moving Gore does make a lot of sense.
Since Washington had him under control for two more years, the question was A) are you going to win with him, and if not, B) can you take advantage of his trade value right now?
The Nationals didn’t get a true top-50 prospect, although Fien is very close. However, Washington targeted toolsy players with projection and potential. It also continues a deep rebuild, one that netted the Nationals catcher Harry Ford earlier in the winter.
As for the Rangers, Texas hasn’t been active in the free agent market. The Rangers have reportedly been trying to keep the payroll down, and Chris Young hinted that a lower payroll would be on the docket for 2026. However, the Rangers, flush with talent on the MLB roster, are not in a rebuilding position.
Gore can help extend that window. With him, the Rangers have a very good top-three, pairing him alongside Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi. Additionally, the Rangers also have Jack Leiter, Kumar Rocker, and Jacob Latz to fill out the rotation.
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