Starter Who Makes Perfect Sense For Red Sox Seemingly Taken Off Trade Market

The Boston Red Sox are looking for a stable option in the rotation behind Garrett Crochet, and one potential external option appears to be off the table.

Brayan Bello and Lucas Giolito have had really solid stretches, and Walker Buehler on Monday showed flashes of the version that used to anchor the Dodgers rotation. But none have had such sustained success that it wouldn’t be worth the Sox looking at what’s out there.

Joe Ryan has been the big name that seems to be a fit for the Red Sox, but the Minnesota Twins might be hesitant to move him — or will ask for so much it’s not worth it. Zac Gallen is another No. 2 option, but he hasn’t had a great year and, unlike Ryan, is a pending free agent.

That takes us to MacKenzie Gore, one of the few bright spots on the Washington Nationals. He’s been largely tremendous atop their rotation and would be a massive boon to any contender’s rotation. He was named to his first All-Star Game this season and sits at a 3.59 ERA and 1.269 WHIP.

He’s been durable throughout his big league career, has been solid this season, and won’t be a free agent until 2028.

Understandably, the Nats appear hesitant to move him, despite plenty of interest, according to New York Post MLB Insider Jon Heyman.

“Several teams have called the Nats about All-Star lefty starter Mackenzie Gore,” Heyman posted Sunday on X. “New Nats GM Mike DeBartolo has said that while he prefers to keep the core group, he’ll ‘always listen.’”’ Probably a long shot with 2 more years before free agency but worth teams trying.”

The Nats are having such a woeful season that they’re sure deadline sellers. But between Gore, C.J. Abrams, James Wood and Dylan Crews, there’s plenty of reason to be optimistic about Washington in the coming years. It’s certainly plausible they would rather see if Gore can be part of the next contending Nats team as opposed to cashing in on him.