Yankees-Nationals 6-Player Trade Idea Ships MacKenzie Gore to New York

Newsweek

4 days ago

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As the trade deadline approaches, Major League Baseball fans are on pins and needles waiting to see in there's an unexpected blockbuster.
We saw it earlier this season when Rafael Devers was shipped from the Boston Red Sox to the San Francisco Giants. The big one can happen at any moment, and Thursday at 6 p.m. ET is the last call for all 30 teams.
The New York Yankees might be a candidate to make the biggest splash, because they clearly need a shakeup. After shoring up their infield with the acquisitions of Ryan McMahon and Amed Rosario, their attention should be shifting to the pitching front.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JULY 25: MacKenzie Gore #1 of the Washington Nationals delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning at Target Field on July 25, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JULY 25: MacKenzie Gore #1 of the Washington Nationals delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning at Target Field on July 25, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.MLB.com's Shanthi Sepe-Chepuru believes the Yankees could make a godfather offer for Washington Nationals All-Star starting pitcher MacKenzie Gore, who would be under team control for two-and-a-half years.
On Wednesday, Sepe-Chepuru proposed a mock trade that would swap Gore and Nationals closer Kyle Finnegan for pitching prospects Carlos Lagrange and Cam Schlittler, catching prospect Rafael Flores, and outfield prospect Everson Pereira.
"The Yankees and Nationals have already dealt with each other this month, so we know the line is open. Breakout star Gore (3.52 ERA, 11.0 K/9) is 26 years old, entering his first year of arbitration, and profiles a lot like current Yankee Carlos Rodón and perpetual trade target Dylan Cease," wrote Sepe-Chepuru.
"This return, in theory, would let the Yankees keep the prospects they're unwilling to part with (No. 1 George Lombard Jr. and No. 4 Spencer Jones) while giving the Nationals talent they can use in a future Wild Card bid; Schlittler (who debuted on July 9) and Lagrange are hard-throwing righties with the potential to stick in the rotation, although Lagrange's arsenal could work just as well in the 9th."
To be frank, there's little reason for the Nationals to consider dealing Gore. He's entering his prime, and he's already been part of a long rebuild that should in theory be coming to fruition next season.
But the Yankees shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth. If the Nationals give them an opportunity to pay this admittedly high price, they should take it and run.
More MLB: Yankees Rumors: Pirates Emerging As Likely Pitching Trade Partner?