Mackenzie Gore Trade Talks: Why Washington Nationals Fans MUST Temper Their Expectations

Mackenzie Gore Trade Talks: Why Washington Nationals Fans MUST Temper Their Expectations

Nats fans, prepare yourselves for a McKenzie Gore trade, but more importantly, also be prepared for a return that may not satisfy you at first. [Music] You are Locked on Nationals, your daily Washington Nationals podcast, part of the Locked On podcast network, your team every day. And thank you all for making Lockdown Nationals your first listen every single day as we are free and available wherever you get your podcast. and I am your host Ryan Clary, your Nationals guy for the Locked On Network, where it’s your team every single day. And later on in today’s program, we’ll have a discussion on a couple different teams that are could be in on McKenzie Gore. We don’t really know the full list yet, but I can tell you this, an all-star left-handed pitcher in the prime of his career, entering the prime, you might even be able to say, people are going to be lining up to trade for him. I’ve got the teams. And I also have the returns for those Nationals fans out there wondering what that could look like. So stay tuned for that later on in the show today. But I want everybody right now to sit back and just admit to yourself the Nationals will be trading McKenzie Gore. But also prepare yourself for this. It is not going to be a franchise altering move like we have seen with trading Juan Sodto in years past. I want to tell you guys why that is. I’ve got a couple of different reasons why. But today’s episode is brought to you by FanDuel. And right now, new customers can bet just $5. And if your bet wins, you’ll get $300 in bonus bets to use across the app. So download the app today. So, a lot of Nationals fans out there, you know, I’ve seen all the discourse surrounding a McKenzie Gore move and what the Nationals could be getting in return, but I want Nationals fans right now to just be honest with themselves. I don’t think this return in a potential deal will be lifechanging for this team. I don’t think that it’s going to take this national team from winning what 68 games into winning 79 games. I don’t think this trade could jump start this rebuild by a few years. I think that this will be a good really good return, but I also do not think it’s going to be lifechanging. Nationals fans, we have had it pretty good when it comes to trades. You can knock Mike Grizzo all you want, but the one thing that he did very well and really really well if we’re just being honest was making trades. You go back to that 2022 deadline with Juan Sodto. You get back James Wood, the number one prospect in all of baseball, who is now an all-star player and who looks like he’s going to be a superstar. You get back McKenzie Gore who looks like he’s going to be an ace and you feel as if that he’s ready to take that next step under a new regime. CJ Abrams, someone who could steal 30 to 40 bags a year, have the ability to hit 25 to 30 home runs. Then you have Harleen Susanna, the top prospect in the system today, pumping 103 miles per hour, standing 6 foot7, making his way up through the minor league ranks. And then also you have Robert Hassel the third, who was also a top 100 prospect and who has also a ton of upside and maybe traded this off season. That is a trade that will happen like maybe two to three more times over the next couple decades here. That is a rare rare move. And so I think right now when Nationals fans hear, oh, we’re going to be trading one of our best players. This is going to be a huge hall in return. It’s going to be a big hall, but it’s just going to be like your normal hall. We’ve talked a lot about the Wanoto trade. and just how it still affects his team today. Where would this team be without those guys that we mentioned? Where would the farm system be right now without Harley Susanna? Like those are serious questions that we have to ask ourselves. That was a franchisealtering move. This will not be just that. This will be a good return in general. And also even beyond the Juan Sodto factor in this, I think there’s a lot of other reasons. I think another me main reason in this discussion is that McKenzie Gore is good, great even some would say. This is an all-star left-handed pitcher who seriously has some of the best stuff in the game from the Southside there. But also, he has some real issues. McKenzie Gore is a great pitcher. Let me say that again. I believe that this guy has ace caliber stuff, but also over the years he has had a track record of some inconsistencies that might kind of cost you a little bit if you do try to trade him. And I think that again, a GM out there is not going to say, “Oh man, like we’re not going to be giving up one of our top prospects because Gore can’t find the zone at times and he’s got bad numbers from June through August. Like we’re not going to take that risk. I can tell you this right now, GMs will be taking that risk. They will line up to trade for this guy. But to say that some of his inconsistencies overall these past few seasons won’t hinder a little of what you could get in return, I think is a little silly. These GMs, they can see his spin rate. They know the swing and miss stuff. They know of the all-star McKenzie Gore. I don’t need to introduce them. This is someone who is a great pitcher, but also he does have some flaws in it. I think right now I think the wrong word to say with Gore is that like, oh, he’s overrated. That’s the wrong phrase here. But I do think we maybe over appreciate him at times because let’s be honest here, the Nationals have not had any quality starting pitchers in years. like you have had some good outings like last year Trevor Williams was great but other than that it’s been McKenzie Gore that is what it has been and he is an all-star caliber player which is obviously much needed but with where this team is now you look at him and you’re like okay would he be a number one in the Mariners probably not would he be the number one in the Blue Jays probably not would be a number one in the Yankees no would be the number one in the Reds No, the Brewers probably not. You start to go down the list and like, yeah, he’s amongst one of the best pitchers in the game, but is he a number one on winning postseason teams? Probably not. So, I think we look at him as like this ace all-star guy and we know that he could probably get to that other gear there with another team or maybe it’s here. But, are teams going to be trading for him for what he could be or what he has been? I think that’s a factor that I think a lot of people will have to really just kind of sit with. That is the reality of the situation. And last but not least, the value. Like we were talking about, go back to this show in July when the McKenzie Gore rumors were happening. We were talking about huge deals. I was talking about I want your top prospect, your second and your third and your fourth and your fifth and give me a major leager while you’re at it. I wanted all their prospects and I think the Nationals could have gotten some of those deals and we were talking some crazy monster trades there. Not lonto level but certainly in that category of like oh my god this is going to be a big move. And now you look at it and you’re like okay he’s got two years left on his deal. He had two and a half years left. And you might think of that and you’re like well what did a half season do? Well, that’s a postseason experience gone out the window. So, that’s number one. But number two, what happens in the off season? Free agency moves. What else happens in the off season? Trades. I think the worst thing that could happen for the Nationals and the McKenzie Gore market, which I feel as if could happen, a Tariq Scooble trade. you know, the multi-time Sai Young winner at this point, the best pitcher in baseball, maybe outside of Paul SK, but he’d certainly debate that Scoob’s the best pitcher in the game. If the Tigers decide to trade him, which it feels as if it’s not like unlikely that they trade him. I would say there’s probably like a 35 to 40% chance that the Tigers may move off of him because they are so far off on extension talks that could hinder the market for McKenzie Gore. Because if you’re a team willing to give up a lot for McKenzie Gore, I am going to take a bet and say they will be willing to give up a lot for the best pitcher in the game. and having Scooble who may be a little bit older, may only have one year left on his deal. Teams that are lining up to trade for McKenzie Gore believe that they could win a World Series. Like the Cardinals are not going to be trading for Mackenzie Gore. They’re not ready to make that next step. Or a team out there like the Marlins, let’s just say, or the A’s, they’re not going to be making a McKenzie Gore trade. They’re not ready to take that next step. But teams out there, it’s all going to be the same. If you’re on Scooble, you’ll be on a McKenzie or Freay secondary market and that could affect the price because Scooble will be traded first if he is moved and then after that the market will dictate exactly what McKenzie Gore is worth. So there are a lot of different things to keep in mind with a McKenzie Gore trade, but my main point is this. lower some of the expectations on a return. This is not going to be a franchise altering move. And some people out there may say, “Well, then don’t do it.” That’s not the way baseball works. And that’s not the way that you should be running this team. Are the Nationals going to be winning a World Series or making the postseason? Forget the World Series. Making the postseason, getting above 500 these next two seasons, I’ll bet against it. And so guys like Gore who not only will probably be walking regardless, but he’s a Scott Boris client and he’s going to get the most money possible, you move off of guys like this. And if you’re going to move off him eventually, why not trade him when his value is at his highest as the days go on and as the games continue to be played this season in 2026, his value will dip on the trade market. That’s just how it is. So, if you’re going to move him, move him now. But also, Nats fans, be ready for a hall that may disappoint you at first, but then as time goes on, you might realize that that was the best decision for this team. So, forget about that. Let’s get into some trade packages. This could be pretty fun. I love putting together trade packages. My dream job is to be a general manager. It’s not going to happen, but still, that’s my dream job. I love putting putting some packages together. I love trades. I’m someone who call me Billy Bean. I don’t care. I love making trades. And you’re going to love a couple of these. So stay tuned. I’ll tell you after this. This episode is brought to you by Prize Picks. And you and I make decisions every day, but on Prize Picks, being right can get you paid. So don’t miss any of the excitement of this sports season. And whether you’re following the NFL, NBA, or both, there’s no better time to jump in on the action than now. 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We are back here on Locked on Nationals and we just discussed McKenzie Gore and why I think Nationals fans should just kind of warn themselves ahead of time as to why these packages may not be that sexy looking at them right now, but maybe down the road they could look a lot better. So, let’s jump into those moves. but also later on in the show today, I’ve got one package in particular that I think you will want to hear about because it’s going to happen. That’s what I feel like. So, let’s discuss that later on in the show today. But my first package is actually the Seattle Mariners. I think the Mariners could definitely be in on McKenzie Gore. I think just this might be one of their missing pieces. I think that they would love a all-star left-handed pitcher. This is a team that just kind of fits that mold of a team that is ready to win. Now, I think the Tariq Scooble comparisons and people are drawing interest with the Mariners and Scooble going to obviously to Seattle there. That’s where he went to college. That’s where he’s from. So, there’s a lot of comparisons right then and there. But if they miss out on Scooble or if Scooble’s not traded, they’re going to look at McKenzie Gore and what Nationals fans would get in return. This is a dream scenario, but this would be huge. You would get their number four prospect, Harry Ford, who has been a top 100 prospect for years. He has been a catcher in their system. 22 years old and he kills the baseball. This is someone who is pretty good behind the plate. Like won’t be a stud star defensively, but certainly has the potential to be really good defensively behind the plate, but more so known for being that offensive first kind of catcher position. That is someone that I think a lot of Nationals fans would easily want. that addresses your knee at the catcher position number one, but number two gives you someone with a lot of room to grow with this young team and with this young management and with a young front office as well. So Harry Ford would obviously be in that deal. This is where it gets a little tricky. I threw in Kate Anderson, and this is not a throwin by any means. He’d probably be the main piece of this deal. But Kate Anderson, the top five pick from this past year’s draft, third overall pick, a 21-year-old left-handed pitcher. I don’t know if the Nationals could pull this move off. You might have to give up a little bit more if you are the Nationals. Like, let’s say, I don’t know, just throwing someone out there like a Robert Hassel a third. Maybe a Nim Nunees if they feel as if that’s necessary. maybe a Jacob Young who’s in that equation there. You would have to give up something of that caliber potentially if you could pull this thing off. But the reason why they would trade away Kane Anderson and one of their top guys with Harry Ford is you would have to go in for this season. That is what it looks like. And there are GMs out there like I think back to the Mike Grizzo days here in with the Nationals obviously Victor Robless he would not move off him. They try to get JT realm to every single deadline. The Nationals refused to trade Victor Robless and that’s what really made them not go after him and not make that trade. And obviously that did not work out for the Nationals in the long run here. But if the Mariners and Jerry do truly truly allin, then go get a left-handed pitching star with McKenzie Gore, someone that you could potentially resign in two years, someone who may really like Seattle and may like to pitch there. I mean, that is a ballpark that has known to be kind of pitcher friendly at times. It is a loud atmosphere. It can get rowdy. And that is a team that is certainly ready to take over that AL West spot because the Astros are on the downfall. The Rangers, I’m not buying at this point. The A’s are the A’s and the Angels are the Angels. They’re going to be really good. So, I think that that is a team that could go allin for McKenzie Gore. They are certainly a really intriguing team to watch. My number two team, the Chicago Cubs. They were probably the team at this last year’s deadline that everyone was drawing comparisons to. And I really did believe for a while there that McKenzie Gore would be traded to the Cubs. But the return would be Moises Ballister, their number two prospect in their system. In my opinion, really their number one guy. He is their catcher in their system. And again, same thing with Harry Ford. Baliseros would be your opening day catcher day one. Someone who has a 60-grade hit tool, someone who does have a little bit of pop. He’s okay defensively. Might be a first base moving forward, but even then, you’ve got a first base opening. You’ve got a catcher position that’s pretty open that you would think. So, that solves one or the other right then and there. 21 years old, ready to make the leap to be an everyday major leager. He’s certainly someone that I think just kind of fits what the Nationals would need there. And then last but not least in that deal, their number three guy, Jackson Wiggins. I think the Nationals may even be able to get more than just these two guys, but similar to what we were talking about with Baliseros and also others in this discussion right now. Wiggins is someone who could easily be in your opening day rotation. Easily. He is one of their brightest pitchers and the Cubs have done very well developing pitching as of recent. This is someone who is 24 years old. He was drafted in the second round back in 2023. Has developed very nicely. Really took a step up this year. He saw a couple games in TripleA. You’d probably see him with the nationals maybe sometime in May or early June depending on some how some things go and how he performs in spring training. But Jackson Wiggins would be a great hall alongside Baliseros. And also, I think that the Nationals could probably get something else in return. You could probably get like a lower level guy. Let’s say like a team’s 21st prospect, 22nd prospect, kind of in that range in this deal. And that’s kind of the market that I think will be swimming in with McKenzie Gore. Last but not least, and it’s really not last, I’ve got another team that n fans might explode after hearing it, but the Houston Astros. I think the Houston Astros could make this happen. I think this is a less sexy option, but this is a team that is probably going to be losing from Valdez after he walks in free agency. He’ll probably be signing a big deal. Are the Astros willing to give him that money? We don’t know at this point, but they’ve got a couple of guys that are really interesting. I look at Bryce Matthews who made his debut this year, second baseman for them, a first round pick back in 2023, flew through the minor leagues, had really, really good seasons offensively these past two years. He’s someone I could certainly see being a star of that package. And then also, you’d get another guy in that their number five prospect, Miguel Ulola. Um, I’m sorry if I mispronounced his name there, but someone who’s been with their system for a long time, an international prospect, that is something that the Astros have done very well. They have scouted so well over the years in the international market. A 70 grade fast ball that can touch up into the upper 90s to 100. Like, that is someone that I think the Nationals would love. 23 years old in AAA, I think it would make a lot of sense for them. But also you get Anderson Breto, someone again not the sexiest prospect, seventh overall guy in their system, 21 years old. Again, another international sign for them. He had a great great year in 2025 across HA. Did battle some injuries overall, but good stuff. A really good slider paired alongside a solid fast ball. This is someone that I think and really just overall with this package, the Nationals, they’d be in on this. And last but not least, now we finally get to it. The Washington Nationals might be trading McKenzie Gore, too. I’ll tell you after this. The NBA is back and there is no better place to get in on the action than FanDuel, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. And even if you miss the start of the game or want to ride the hot hand, FanDuel has live bets on everything from who will score to next the to of course fourth quarter comebacks as well. 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Not with me, but with this particular team, McKenzie Gore, this is not that unlikely, could easily be traded to the San Diego Padres’s. And just before we get into any package, how funny would that be? I mean, just how good of a headline would that be if I had to get with my guy from Locked on Padres’s and we have to do another episode breaking down a oneto deal and then, oh, we just traded you Mackenzie Gore, too. We got to talk about that. I mean, oh my gosh, would Nationals fans be upset? Would you think it’s funny? I mean, my first reaction, I’d be like, I don’t even care what the deal is. I don’t care what we get in return. What a hilarious deal. AJ Prowler is inevitable. And we talked about him. He was actually the one who made the biggest push for McKenzie Gore at this past year’s deadline. They are aggressive. They have great talent in their system. But also right now with where the Nationals are and where the Padres’s are, does it make sense? They gave up a ton of prospects for Mason Miller in my and JP series. In my opinion, a dumb deal by the Padres’s, but when you’re AJ Prowler, that’s what you’re going to do. So, what would a return look like in that scenario? You would go with the number one overall prospect in their system, Ethan Solace, who is 18 years old. He has been in the minor leagues for literally the past two seasons, but or even the last three seasons. even worked his way up to double A as a 16-year-old and has since not really done all too well. He has been injured. This year he was shut down due a back injury and in those 10 games did not do too much. The power has kind of gone away. He only hit four home runs in 111 games in 2024 compared to his nine home runs as a 16-year-old back in six back in 2023. Like that is something in my opinion. But here’s the good news. At 19 years old, my apologies think I said 18. As a 19-year-old, Brady House had back problems as a 19-year-old. Like that is not an end all be all. But I will say the overall concerns with him are just kind of what he has not done yet. He has not taken that step up for being a top prospect. But I can tell you this, for someone who’s already in double A, you would think that he would work his way up to triple AAA at some point early on this season. I think he would be a very intriguing guy to have in this system. And while the bat has kind of really just been gone these past two years, maybe that’s something that Tabone can really tap into. And it’s not someone that you necessarily have to rush up into this. This is a 19-year-old who doesn’t turn 20 until June. like he is a great defensive catcher, probably the best defensive catcher in all of minor league baseball. That’s number one. And number two, he does have a lot of potential at the plate. And the Padres signed him for $5.6 million a few years ago for a reason. Like this guy is ultra mega talented and they have really just rode him down in the minor leagues, but he has had some struggles. So I think that we would start there. I think you’d get their Cruz School crap, their number one pick from this past year’s draft out of high school. A left-handed pitcher again similar in that aspect. A good fast ball, really good slider down at the prep leagues. I think he’s someone that you could easily get as well. And then I would also even throw in a Miguel Mendes, someone who’s in double A for the Padres’s. He’s someone that could easily work up into the major league some point this season. had a really good year in 2025 and 21 starts, had 95 innings pitched and 118 strikeouts. I could see the Nationals really kind of getting their paws a little dirty on this and just making this trade. But again, how funny would it be to have the Padres’s in on McKenzie Gore yet again and trade back for him? That’s a headline that you just cannot make up. That is a headline that John Haymon cannot and will not mess up. So, that’s 18 that I think will seriously be in the running. From all these packages, the one that intrigues me the most is probably the one that will not happen. I think it’s a little too steep of a return for the Nationals. Uh, it’s the Mariners, Kate Anderson, a top three pick from this past year’s draft. Then Harry Ford for McKenzie Gore. That would be a dream scenario. And if you’re a national fan out there, sign up for that like today. So that’s what we got from McKenzie Gore. But we will talk a lot more about trades and rumors, but also some coaching hirings that should happen pretty soon. So stay tuned for all of that and more. But until then, have a good one. Go Nats.

Ryan Clary prepares Nationals fans for the inevitable Mackenzie Gore trade while tempering expectations on the return package. He argues this won’t be a franchise-altering deal like the Juan Soto blockbuster, citing Gore’s remaining contract years, inconsistency issues, and potential market complications from a Tarik Skubal trade. Clary breaks down realistic trade scenarios with the Mariners (Harry Ford and Cade Anderson), Cubs (Moises Ballesteros and Jaxson Wiggins), Astros (Brice Matthews package), and humorously, the Padres (Ethan Salas headlining). He emphasizes that while Gore is an All-Star caliber pitcher, his value doesn’t match the generational haul Washington received for Soto, urging fans to adjust expectations for a solid but not spectacular return that addresses organizational needs.

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0:00 Intro

1:37 Prepare for a Disappointing Gore Return?

4:10 Why This Won’t Be Franchise Altering

6:44 Gore’s Value Compared to Cy-Young Pitchers

9:17 Tarik Skubal Could Tank Gore’s Market

11:50 Seattle Mariners Trade Package Discussion

17:29 Chicago Cubs Potential Deal Breakdown

20:32 Houston Astros as Dark Horse Suitor

23:36 San Diego Padres Reunion Trade Scenario