MacKenzie Gore has been the swing decision for the Washington Nationals ever since the 2025 season started to fall off a cliff.
Do they trade him, or do they keep him?
Gore is a bit ahead in his timeline from many of the Nationals' core pieces, like the young superstar James Wood.
Keeping Gore would be to take an approach that contention is here right now for the Nats.
Trading Gore would be acknowledging that it may take another couple years to peak.
USA Today's Bob Nightengale thinks the Nationals are going to take the latter approach.
"The Nationals have a whole new front office, new coaching staff and new ideas," Nightengale writes. "They are expected to use Gore, who has two more years of club control, as the trade bait to kick-start their new era."
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If the Nats trade Gore now, it means they head into the 2026 season without a true ace. It likely prevents them from being contenders in a major way for at least one more year.
But if a Gore trade nets a couple promising prospects, including at least one pitcher, it could work out in the long run.
The Nationals have to build around Wood, and that's really all that matters.
Gore will help a contending team get over the top. He'd be a solid third arm in a postseason series.
The Nationals just aren't ready for Gore to pitch for them in the playoffs, which is why he may be moved.
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