Cubs Trade Idea Lands 26-Year-Old All-Star With 3.08 ERA

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Cubs Trade Idea Lands 26-Year-Old All-Star With 3.08 ERA originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The Chicago Cubs could go many ways during the trade deadline. The Cubs could use another bat, but there’s also a strong argument that if Chicago doesn’t add to its rotation, it might not be the team it’s looking to be come October.

With the injury to Justin Steele, keeping the left-hander out for the rest of the campaign, the Cubs have to be careful here.

They’ll have the opportunity to get creative, which is a positive thing. However, the Cubs will also have to hope that a few teams move on from players whom many don’t think are available.

That includes MacKenzie Gore of the Washington Nationals, who Newsweek recently linked the team to in a blockbuster deal.

“Chicago also has a strong farm system that could send a huge package to the Nationals in any deal involving Gore. The 26-year-old lefty has 2 1/2 years of team control remaining, so it would likely be a major return going to Washington.

“Outfielders Owen Caissie (Cubs No. 1 prospect) as well as Kevin Alcántara (Cubs No. 4 prospect) are strong considerations to be in any trade for Gore. The deal would likely center around one of them, along with two more prospects in the Cubs’ top 10. It would look very similar to the package that sent Juan Soto to San Diego and Gore to the Nationals as part of the return,” they wrote.

Gore is set to hit the free agency market in 2028, and only becomes arbitration eligible after this season.

For the Nationals, while they haven’t exactly played well, they have some of the brightest young talent in baseball, and Gore should be a big part of that moving forward.

Unless they get a massive offer, there’s no reason for them to move on from him.

The left-hander earned his first All-Star Game nod and has a 3.02 ERA with 138 strikeouts in 110.1 innings.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 21, 2025, where it first appeared.