The Texas Rangers just made a bold move, acquiring left-hander MacKenzie Gore from the Washington Nationals in a blockbuster deal that sent five prospects to D.C., headlined by 2025 first-rounder Gavin Fien. It’s a trade that speaks volumes-not just about where the Rangers see themselves in the AL pecking order, but also about how much value teams still place on high-upside, controllable starting pitching.
Let’s break it down.
The Rangers Go All-In for Gore
Gore isn’t just any arm. He’s a former top prospect who’s shown flashes of frontline potential, and while he’s still putting it all together, the stuff is real. Lefties who can touch the upper 90s with movement, flash a plus curveball, and hold their own in the big leagues don’t come cheap-especially when they’ve got two years of team control left.
To land Gore, Texas had to part with a significant chunk of its future. Fien, their No. 2 prospect and a first-round pick just last summer, leads the return package.
While he hasn’t yet cracked MLB Pipeline’s Top 100, there’s a growing buzz around him. Scouts love his advanced approach at the plate and projectable power.
He’s the kind of bat you don’t move unless you’re getting a potential difference-maker in return.
But the Rangers didn’t stop there. They also sent over Alejandro Rosario, a top-10 arm in their system, along with three more top-20 prospects: Abimelec Ortiz, Devin Fitz-Gerald, and Yeremy Cabrera. That’s a serious haul, and it shows just how much Texas believes Gore can help them win now-and maybe even be a long-term piece of their rotation.
Comparing the Gore and Cabrera Deals
Now, here’s where things get interesting-especially if you’re following the Chicago Cubs.
The Cubs were reportedly in on Gore at last year’s trade deadline, but balked at Washington’s steep asking price, which included names like Owen Caissie, Matt Shaw, and Cade Horton. That’s a heavy lift, and the Cubs ultimately pivoted. Instead, they landed Edward Cabrera from the Marlins in a separate deal, giving up Caissie, Cristian Hernandez, and Edgardo De Leon.
So how do the two moves stack up?
From a pure control standpoint, Cabrera has three years left, one more than Gore. That extra year matters, especially for a team like the Cubs that’s trying to thread the needle between contending and building for the long haul.
Cabrera also comes with some risk-his injury history is well-documented-but the upside is tantalizing. Like Gore, he’s shown the tools to be a top-of-the-rotation guy.
The difference is, the Cubs believe their pitching infrastructure can help him get there.
And while giving up Caissie stings-he’s the kind of bat who could haunt them down the line-the rest of the package wasn’t nearly as damaging to the farm system as what Texas just gave up for Gore. Hernandez and De Leon are considered more lottery tickets than sure things.
In essence, the Cubs made a calculated gamble. They gave up a prized prospect, yes, but they held onto the depth of their system.
Even so, it’s worth noting: Chicago’s farm isn’t exactly thriving post-trade. They’re walking a fine line between making win-now moves and keeping the pipeline flowing.
Big Picture Takeaways
What both trades underscore is how much teams are willing to pay for high-ceiling pitching with years of control. The Rangers emptied out a good portion of their top-20 prospect list for Gore, betting that he can solidify a rotation with championship ambitions. The Cubs made a similar bet on Cabrera, but with a slightly different calculus-more control, slightly more risk, and a less painful dent to the system.
Time will tell which club made the better move. But one thing’s clear: when it comes to acquiring potential frontline starters, the price is steep-and only going up.