Rangers Acquire LHP Mackenzie Gore from Nationals for Package of Five Prospects

The Texas Rangers acquired left-handed pitcher MacKenzie Gore, 26, from the Washington Nationals in a five-player trade announced Thursday afternoon, adding a high-upside arm to their rotation while potentially shifting their focus from the free-agent market.

Gore was a prominent piece in the package the Nationals received from the San Diego Padres for Juan Soto in 2022. He has posted a career 4.19 ERA over three-and-a-half Major League seasons, demonstrating high strikeout potential. However, his off-speed arsenal and ability to limit hard contact will be areas of focus for his development with the Rangers.

Last season, Gore showed flashes of frontline potential, particularly before the All-Star break, where he compiled a 3.02 ERA through 19 starts, spanning 110 1/3 innings with 138 strikeouts. His performance dipped in his final 11 starts, however, recording a 6.75 ERA over 49 1/3 innings with 47 strikeouts.

The Rangers are banking on Gore's high upside, with President of Baseball Operations Chris Young and his staff likely identifying elements in his mechanics or approach they believe they can refine. If Gore can recapture his early-season 2025 form, this trade could yield significant long-term benefits for the club.

The Package

In return, the Nationals acquire a significant haul of five prospects from the Rangers' farm system, all of whom were ranked within the top 20 of MLB Pipeline's organizational rankings:

• RHP Gavin Fien (No. 2)
• RHP Alejandro Rosario (No. 6)
• INF Devin Fitz-Gerald (No. 12)
• OF Yeremy Cabrera (No. 16)
• 1B/OF Abimelec Ortiz (No. 18)

Fien, 18, is considered the centerpiece of the Nationals' return. The Rangers' first-round pick (No. 12 overall) in last year's Draft directly out of high school, Fien made 10 appearances for Single-A Hickory in his professional debut season.

Ortiz, 23, a left-handed slugger, saw his stock rise significantly in 2023, hitting 33 home runs and posting a .990 OPS across stops at Single-A Down East and High-A Hickory. 2025 was another great year for Ortiz where the slugger‘s stock rose even more hitting 25 home runs and posting a .835 OPS across a year with Double-A Frisco and Triple-A Round Rock. He could offer a quicker path to the Majors for the Nationals at first base.

Cabrera, 20, an outfielder, followed up a strong 2023 rookie ball campaign (1.031 OPS) with his first full season at High-A Hickory, where he batted .256 with a .730 OPS.

Rosario, a right-handed pitcher, carries significant injury concerns despite his high ranking. He has battled persistent injuries over the past year and is expected to miss the entire 2026 season. When healthy, he demonstrated dominance, posting a 2.24 ERA across 18 games between Single-A Down East and High-A Hickory. His return to the mound in the Nationals' system will be closely monitored.

Infielder Devin Fitz-Gerald, 20, rounds out the package. A fifth-round pick in 2024, Fitz-Gerald impressed in rookie ball with a .318 average, .965 OPS, and six home runs in 31 games. After a promotion to High-A Hickory, he hit .250 with a .723 OPS in a brief 10-game stint.

Rangers' Outlook

The acquisition underscores the Rangers' "win-now" philosophy. Recognizing that their current prospect capital, with Ortiz being the highest-level player at Triple-A Round Rock, wouldn't contribute immediately to a championship push, Texas opted for a proven, albeit still developing, Major League arm. The move suggests the club is confident in their ability to further develop Gore, especially given their established rotation pieces like Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi, which could ease the pressure on the young left-hander.

With Gore joining Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi, and Jack Leiter, the Rangers' rotation now boasts a formidable top four. This depth provides flexibility, potentially allowing Cody Bradford to return to a rotation role once healthy, or offering options if other young arms like Kumar Rocker develop into starters or long relievers. Another piece to look for is LHP Jake Latz who excelled when put into a starter role later on last season. The trade elevates expectations for the Rangers, placing a greater emphasis on the offensive contributions from key players like Josh Jung and others to contend for a championship in 2026.