Red Sox Should Bite On Nationals ‘Trade Bait’ Pitcher
MacKenzie Gore was an All-Star last season
The Boston Red Sox made the playoffs last season, but the starting rotation could use a boost behind Garrett Crochet.
Crochet was phenomenal in his first season in Boston, posting a 2.59 ERA in 32 starts. In his lone postseason start, he went 7 2/3 innings, allowing just one run. If the Red Sox want more help behind him, they should consider trading for Washington Nationals All-Star pitcher MacKenzie Gore.
Gore was named an All-Star for the first time in his career last season, and MLB insider Bob Nightengale tabbed him as “trade bait.”
“The Nationals have a whole new front office, new coaching staff and new ideas,” Nightengale wrote on Monday. “They are expected to use Gore, who has two more years of club control, as the trade bait to kick-start their new era.”
Gore had a 4.17 ERA in 30 starts last season. While his overall numbers are not great, he was solid for most of the season. He had a 3.02 ERA in the first half of the season, but his final 11 starts were not as sharp.
Brayan Bello pitched well last season, but it does not change the fact that the Red Sox should bolster the rotation behind Crochet. Gore is under club control through 2027 and is projected to make $6.5 million next season.
Gore ranks eighth in Major League Baseball in strikeouts per nine innings since the start of 2024. In that same span, Crochet leads baseball in that metric. Red Sox starters ranked 12th in strikeouts last season, so adding Gore could give them a huge boost in that department.
