The Chicago Cubs did well in retaining their ace, Shota Imanaga, using a qualifying offer. However, he needs help, and their current rotation isn’t up to par to do so.
Fansided’s Christopher Kline believes that they need to make a move to support Imanaga. To him, that means trading for Washington Nationals All-Star ace MacKenzie Gore.
“Shōta Imanaga's qualifying offer decision gives the Chicago Cubs some short-term relief, but Justin Steele and Matthew Boyd are not winning headliners in October. The Cubs need a proper star on the mound, especially with the offense expected to recede post-Kyle Tucker. Gore might not be the most stable option, but the upside clears just about every other reportedly available ace, with the exception of Tarik Skubal or Freddy Peralta — neither of whom is under club control past 2026, and neither of whom will end up on the North Side. Gore might exceed Chicago's typical spending limit once he hits free agency in two years, but two years of a burgeoning ace is worth it for the Cubs,” Kline wrote.
This past season, Gore posted a 4.17 ERA with 185 Ks, and a WHIP of 1.353 over 159 innings pitched. However, Gore had an ERA of 3.08 and 138 strikeouts at the All-Star Break.
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Gore would also not put a huge strain on the Cubs’ payroll, as he still has two years of control left on his contract. With that in mind, Chicago can still target other stars to create a championship window.
Hopefully, they start negotiations with the Nats soon, as other contenders will definitely take advantage of the Winter Meetings to do their own shopping.
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