The Chicago Cubs are coming off a very successful 2025 campaign, but that success is now going to come with expectations heading into the 2026 season. Chicago is already expected not to retain star free agent Kyle Tucker, so they must make moves in other areas to patch up the loss of production.
One position that is considered a need for the Cubbies is starting pitching. Cade Horton and Shota Imanaga lead the charge in the rotation, and Justin Steele should return healthy. Still, there are some doubts about Imanaga’s health and age, and Horton also spent time on the Injured List through September and October. Trading for this Nationals’ All-Star starter could be the key addition Chicago makes this offseason that leads them to an NL Central crown.
More MLB on Heavy: Braves Writer Urges Atlanta to Make Trade with Brewers for 2-Time All-Star Starter
Should the Cubs Trade for MacKenzie Gore?
As MLB’s Winter Meetings have started and are progressing, multiple reports suggest that Nationals’ starter MacKenzie Gore could be on the move in the next few days. He’s been viewed as a top trade candidate all offseason, and many teams may want to make a move on him.
In this trade idea, the Chicago Cubs acquire Gore for prospects Moises Ballesteros and Jonathon Long. Gore is such an attractive candidate because he’s controllable for the next two seasons before a club will have to make a free agent decision on him.
GettyMacKenzie Gore of the Washington Nationals
MacKenzie Gore is fresh off his first All-Star season, but he’s now put together back-to-back seasons of being a highly productive starter. In 2024, he posted a 3.90 ERA over 32 starts and 181 strikeouts. This season, Gore finished with a 4.17 ERA over 30 starts and 185 strikeouts.
More MLB on Heavy: Tigers Predicted to Land 3.44 ERA Starter in Free Agency
Why The Nationals Would Trade MacKenzie Gore
The Washington Nationals are operating under new front office management, and this could kickstart their tenure by adding two of the Cubs’ top-10 prospects to the farm system.
His name hasn’t garnered as much attention in the trade market as Gore’s, but Washington is also expected to field offers for shortstop CJ Abrams.
It’s clear Washington is headed for a rebuild, and for an NL contender like the Cubs, they should use that to their advantage, especially at this time of year when organizations are looking to make meaningful deals.
Chicago could also head to the free agent market to acquire a starter, but that feels more unlikely because of the Cubs’ spending habits and the number of players that they need to pay in the coming seasons.
As the week goes along, expect MacKenzie Gore’s name to continue to float around in trade rumors.
More MLB on Heavy: Yankees-Brewers Trade Idea Sends 2-Time All-Star Starter to New York in Exchange for Will Warren
Â
More Heavy on Cubs
Loading more stories