Will All-Star pitcher MacKenzie Gore still be on the lowly Washington Nationals at the start of the 2026 MLB season?

He’s a cost-effective, quality ace who could help a contending team — and there are plenty who will likely be in the bidding for his services this winter.

Jesse Rogers of ESPN is bullish on a trade coming together, and has pinpointed two clubs in particular that could use him.

“Where there is smoke, there is fire, meaning Washington Nationals starting pitcher MacKenzie Gore will be moved. His name came up a lot in Orlando and there are enough motivated teams in part because he’s good and affordable,” Rogers writes. “An American League East team, such as the New York Yankees or Orioles, fits for Gore — especially the latter, which might have an extra hitter or two to spare after signing Alonso. Gore fits in Baltimore on several levels.”

Gore is set to earn an estimated $6.5 million next year — not bad for an All-Star.

Baltimore’s bullpen could use some fresh talent. The team is looking to rebound after a dismal 75-87 season that saw the team ditch former manager Brandon Hyde midway through the year.

A year after losing the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a five-game gentleman’s sweep, the 94-win Yankees were bounced 3-1 out of the ALDS by the World Series-bound Toronto Blue Jays.

The 6-foot-2 Southpaw was selected with the No. 3 overall pick by the San Diego Padres in the 2017 MLB Draft. He worked his way up through the minors for five years, logging stints with the Arizona League Padres in 2017, the Fort Wayne TinCaps in 2018, the Lake Elsinore Storm and Amarillo Sod Poodles in 2019, and the El Paso Chihuahuas and Peoria Javelinas in 2021. San Diego proper brought Gore in on its 40-man roster during the 2021 offseason.

Gore had an uneven start to his rookie season with the Padres, and after being placed on the injured list with an inflamed left elbow, he was eventually flipped to the Nationals in August. He rehabbed in Triple-A, and eventually made his Washington debut in 2023.

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Gore has been on a tear since arriving in town.

The 26-year-old is the second-youngest current pitcher to have already recorded 500 career strikeouts. He was named to his first All-Star team this past season. In 30 games for the 66-95 Nationals this past season (during which he was credited with an unfortunate 5-15 win-loss record), Gore posted a 4.17 ERA, striking out 185 batters. A right ankle impingement suffered in late September ended his season a smidge early.

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