Following the trade between the Cubs and the Marlins that sent starting pitcher Edward Cabrera to Chicago, there are still a number of significant starters that could be traded before spring rolls around.
Starting pitchers typically demand an overpay in today’s trade market, and that has continued to be the case this winter. Edward Cabrera yielded Cubs top prospect Owen Caissie as well as two more position player prospects which included Cristian Hernandez, Chicago’s 11th ranked prospect.
Teams are willing to pay a steep price for starting pitching
While Cabrera has flashed some serious upside, he hasn’t quite put together a track record that most teams would be willing to trade their top prospect and then some for. 2025 was his first full season after a series of injuries dating back to his debut in 2021. Even then, he only threw 137 and ⅔ innings in 2025. There is no problem with betting on the upside here if you’re the Cubs, but you have to be okay with overpaying if you’re looking to add depth to your rotation regardless of the concerns he may come with.
Before Cabrera, it was Shane Baz that yielded quite the haul for the Tampa Bay Rays. Baz found himself in a very similar situation to Cabrera prior to being traded to the Orioles. He’s one year younger than Cabrera with the same amount of years of control remaining (three), along with an injury history but also some great upside. The Orioles had to give up four top 30 prospects, two of which were first round picks a year ago, as well as a 2026 draft pick to get Baz, which was quite the price to pay. However, the Orioles were in the same position as the Cubs and needed to add pitching depth by any means necessary if they wanted to compete in 2026.
Mackenzie Gore could very likely be the next starting pitcher on the move
With all of that being said, there is still a healthy market for the starting pitchers left on the trading block. Freddy Peralta, Luis Castillo, and Pablo Lopez are a few top pitchers left that could likely still be moved, but Mackenzie Gore is the pitcher that sticks out as most likely to be the next domino to fall following the Cabrera deal.
Gore is in a similar boat to both Cabrera and Baz, but offers a higher floor than both. Gore has one less year of control but is a little younger with a better track record of health and success. Gore has made at least 27 starts in each of his last three seasons and has posted some decent numbers. In his three seasons with the Nationals, Gore owns a 4.15 ERA and a 4.01 FIP, and in 2025 posted a career high 27.2% strikeout rate.
Gore presents himself as a solid third starter in a playoff rotation, and a number of contenders are still looking to add depth. Some notable teams include the Yankees, Mets, and Giants. The Nationals also happen to find themselves in a similar situation to both the Marlins and Rays prior to when they traded their respective pitchers. All three teams are in somewhat of a transition period but don’t face a ton of pressure to move any big names which means the Nationals have every right to seek out a significant haul for Gore. Teams are obviously willing to overpay, so it’s likely Gore could be on the move next even if rumor has it that the Nationals asking price is high.