Nationals at a Crossroads with MacKenzie Gore Trade Talks
As winter envelops the baseball landscape, the Washington Nationals find themselves grappling with one of the most significant decisions of their offseason: what to do with their ace, MacKenzie Gore. With two years of club control still in their grasp, the Nationals are positioned to potentially maximize Gore’s value. The new president of baseball operations, Paul Toboni, faces a delicate balancing act. While the temptation to deal Gore is palpable, the implications of such a move could reverberate throughout the organization.
The Risk of Trading Away an Ace
Trading Gore, the team’s most effective starter, raises questions about the depth of the Nationals’ rotation. Behind him, the current roster lacks viable top-tier arms, leaving a potential gap in the starting lineup. As the Nationals aim to foster a new culture and rebuild, parting ways with their best pitcher could prove to be a gamble that backfires.
2026 Projected Rotation Shake-Up
In a recent projection, Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report suggests a complete overhaul of the Nationals’ rotation, predicting that Gore could be dealt to the Boston Red Sox. This trade would reportedly bring back a package centered around promising left-hander Payton Tolle. Alongside Tolle, Reuter speculates that the team might pursue free agent pitchers Zack Littell and Dustin May to round out a revamped rotation, joining holdovers Josiah Gray and Cade Cavalli.
Projected 2026 Nationals rotation:
RHP Zack Littell
RHP Josiah Gray
RHP Dustin May
LHP Payton Tolle
RHP Cade Cavalli
Reuter notes, “In this round of predictions, Gore is going to the Red Sox for a package built around young left-hander Payton Tolle. As for potential signings, Zack Littell has quietly logged a 3.73 ERA and 6.0 WAR in 343 innings the last two years, while Dustin May offers some of the more intriguing buy-low upside on the market entering his age-28 campaign.”
Tolle: A Promising Addition for the Future
While the details of the proposed package for Gore remain vague, acquiring Tolle would certainly mark a positive step forward for the Nationals. At just 23 years old, Tolle was the Red Sox’s second-round pick in 2024 and has made a splash in his first professional season. Despite a shaky debut in the majors, where he posted a 6.06 ERA over seven games (three starts), Tolle managed to strike out 19 batters in just 16 1/3 innings pitched.
Though his debut raised some eyebrows—highlighted by eight walks and a .277 batting average against—his rapid ascent to the big leagues speaks volumes about his potential. For the Nationals, integrating a talent like Tolle could be a significant win, potentially adding a high-end starter to their rotation in the years to come.
Looking Ahead
As the offseason unfolds, the Nationals are at a pivotal juncture. The prospect of trading MacKenzie Gore is fraught with both opportunity and risk. With the potential arrival of Tolle and other new faces, Washington could be taking the first steps toward reshaping their future. Whether this gamble pays off will largely depend on the decisions made in the coming months, as the team navigates the complexities of rebuilding while maintaining competitiveness.
