ORLANDO, Fla. —The New York Yankees are not waiting around for their injured aces to return. They are hunting for arms right now.
Brian Cashman has turned his attention to Washington. The Yankees have expressed interest in Nationals left-hander MacKenzie Gore, according to Andrew Golden of The Washington Post. It is a move that could reshape the Bronx rotation before spring training even begins.
But here is the catch. Gore finished 2025 with a 5-15 record and a 4.17 ERA. So why would the Yankees chase a pitcher with those numbers?
The answer may lie in what the Yankees believe they can unlock.
The rotation holes that need filling
The Yankees will begin next season without three key rotation arms. Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, and Clarke Schmidt are all recovering from surgeries. None will be ready for Opening Day.
MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch provided the latest timelines on Monday. Rodon is expected back in late April or early May after undergoing surgery to remove loose bodies and shave down a bone spur in his left elbow. Cole is targeting a May or June return as he works back from Tommy John surgery performed in March 2025.
Schmidt also had Tommy John surgery in July. The Yankees do not expect him back until the second half of 2026.
That leaves Max Fried and Cam Schlittler as the only proven starters available when the season begins. Luis Gil, Will Warren, Ryan Yarbrough, and Allan Winans would compete for the remaining spots. It is a thin group for a team with championship aspirations.
What Gore’s numbers actually reveal
The win-loss record tells a misleading story. Gore pitched for a Nationals team that ranked near the bottom of baseball in run support. In his final seven starts before the record cratered, he posted a 2.32 ERA while going 1-4. That is brutal luck, not bad pitching.
Before the All-Star break, Gore carried a 3.02 ERA and 1.20 WHIP through 19 starts and 110.1 innings. He was the first pitcher in baseball to reach 100 strikeouts in 2025. He earned his first All-Star selection.
Gore struck out 185 batters against just 64 walks across 159.2 innings in 30 starts. At 26 years old, he became just the second youngest active pitcher with 500 career strikeouts. Only Hunter Greene is younger.
His fastball sits around 96 mph with excellent extension that makes it play harder than the velocity suggests. The raw stuff has always been there. The results have not always matched.
The pitch mix problem the Yankees could solve
One glaring issue stands out in Gore’s profile. He relied too heavily on his four-seam fastball in 2025, throwing it at a 49.2% clip. Among starters with at least 150 innings pitched, Gore ranked seventh in four-seam usage.
That goes against the modern pitching trend of embracing a deeper mix. When hitters timed up the heater, Gore had nowhere to turn. His four-seamer recorded 0 Run Value and a .483 opponent slugging percentage.
The Yankees have seen this before. Carlos Rodon arrived as a left-hander who struggled to move the ball laterally and lacked secondary weapons. When his fastball stopped overpowering hitters, he had to adapt. Rodon refined his changeup and added a sinker under New York’s guidance.
Gore fits a similar mold. With pitching coach Matt Blake and pitch design specialist Desi Druschel on the major league staff, the Yankees have the infrastructure to expand Gore’s arsenal. Washington was not known for implementing data effectively at the big league level. The Yankees excel at it.
History shows what a change of scenery can do
The Yankees are betting on player development. They believe the right environment can unlock Gore’s ceiling.
Consider the Gerrit Cole blueprint. Cole was a solid starter with the Pirates but became a true ace when he moved to the analytically advanced Astros in 2018. The change of scenery and development approach transformed him into a Cy Young contender.
Gore was the third overall pick in the 2017 draft. He was once considered the best pitching prospect in baseball. The talent has never been questioned. The consistency has.
A move to the Bronx could be exactly what Gore needs to put everything together. The Yankees are built to take swings on high-upside arms. Gore represents exactly that kind of gamble.
Nationals signaling willingness to deal
Washington has new leadership. Paul Toboni took over as president of baseball operations and has made clear he is open to offers on Gore and other assets.
Gore has two years of team control remaining. That makes him valuable to contenders seeking rotation depth without long-term financial commitments. The Yankees fit that description.
Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic reported that Gore “seems a good bet” to be traded this offseason. The Nationals have already moved reliever Jose Ferrer to the Mariners. More deals could follow.
Gore’s inconsistency means he will not command a massive prospect haul. That could allow Cashman to acquire a talented arm at a reasonable cost.
The upside that makes this move appealing
If the Yankees acquire Gore and unlock his potential, the rotation could become elite by midseason. Imagine Cole, Fried, Rodon, Schlittler, and a revamped Gore all healthy and dealing.
The risk is real. Gore has always shown flashes of dominance but regressed when the final numbers were tallied. He carried a 3.90 ERA in 2024 after a 4.42 mark in 2023. The pattern has repeated.
But at 26, Gore is entering his prime. His strikeout numbers are at career highs. His walk rate has improved each season. The building blocks are in place for a breakout.
The Yankees need pitching depth now. Gore needs a fresh start with a pitching development staff that can maximize his arsenal. This could be the perfect match.
Cashman is working the phones. The Winter Meetings roll on. And MacKenzie Gore may be the swing the Yankees are willing to take to solve their rotation puzzle.
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