The Nationals announced today that left-hander MacKenzie Gore has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to a right ankle impingement. Right-hander Mason Thompson has also been placed on the 15-day IL, retroactive to September 20th, in his case due to right biceps tendinitis. Righties Julian Fernandez and Orlando Ribalta have been recalled in corresponding moves.
Gore started last night’s game against Atlanta and wasn’t at his best. He faced 13 opponents but recorded just six outs while allowing four earned runs on four hits and four walks while striking out three, throwing 71 pitches in the process. Perhaps his ankle was bugging him and the Nats decided not to push him any further, since they’re eliminated and aren’t playing for anything in the remainder of the campaign.
His health will be a situation to watch in the coming weeks and months, as he has a chance to be one of the most notable trade candidates this winter. It’s not a guarantee that the Nats make him available, but he did garner interest ahead of the trade deadline. The Padres reportedly tried real hard to bring him back to San Diego, though the Nats reportedly asked for a five-player package headlined by Leo De Vries, who is one of the top prospects in the league. De Vries ended up going to the Athletics in the Mason Miller trade instead.
It’s possible that Washington revisits trade possibilities this winter. Dealing Gore would be a notable subtraction from their big league roster. However, he is now down to two remaining years of club control, as he’s slated for free agency after 2027. Gore is represented by the Boras Corporation. While it’s not true that Boras clients never sign extensions, it is generally true that it’s more challenging to sign players with that agency.
The Nats don’t currently appear close to contention, as they sport a 64-93 record, one of the worst in the majors. The club surely hoped to come out of their lengthy rebuild a while ago but has struggled to do so. The lack of progress led to president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez getting fired back in July. Reportedly, there are systemic issues in the organization beyond the decisions coming from the front office and the dugout.
Going into this winter, the Nats still have to decide on a new front office leader. Mike DeBartolo is currently the interim general manager but the club is speaking with external candidates. It’s unclear at that point if the club wants to make an aggressive push to contend in the near term or continue the attempts to add young talent.
If the club is not going to be aggressive, then there’s an argument for making Gore available. With just two years of club control, he’d be wasted on a team not trying to win. On the other hand, his value may not be at an apex. He was quite strong earlier this year but has faded more recently.
In the first half, he tossed 110 1/3 innings with a 3.02 earned run average, 30.5% strikeout rate and 7.7% walk rate. In the second half, he’s added 49 1/3 innings with a 6.75 ERA, 20.7% strikeout rate and 12.8% walk rate. He spent less than two weeks on the IL in early September due to shoulder inflammation. He was able to return but is now going back on the IL yet again.
Teams would still be interested in Gore given his two years of control and affordability. He is making just $2.89MM this year. He’ll be due raises in arbitration over the next two years but will still be underpaid relative to pitchers signed in free agency.
Put all together, it will be an interesting decision for whoever ends up running the Washington front office. If they think the rebuilding process is going to take another year or two, it makes sense to listen to offers on Gore. If his recent downturn leads to tepid offers, they could hold him and try again at next year’s deadline, though that path also comes with the risk of him suffering a significant injury before they get a chance to trade him.
Photo courtesy of Eric Hartline, Imagn Images
Now Cubs should have unloaded the farm for this guy. It would have been great to see and hear the fans now as he was put on the IL. Jed would need to be fired and Ricketts forced to sell the team. Oh well, the trades that were not made.
gore 1st half: 3.02 era, 1.19 whip
2nd: 6.75 era, 1.70 whip
yikes
I’d say when stats like this go that far that quick, something bothering him for past couple of months that he was trying to work thru.
He didn’t just stop being able to throw his pitches and guys didn’t just magically start crushing him that bad.
Hope he gets whatever needs to be done – rest or whatever.
He isn’t going to live up to the hype that he had when drafted (not many could) but he has a long 3/4 SP career ahead of him likely making 100 mil or more.
Gore was pitching with a sore shoulder for some time before he went on the il. He is one of the best young starters in baseball, when healthy!!
Will be in his age 27 season next year. Quickly becoming a “middle aged” SP as opposed to “young”.
As for “one of the best” – he has had some smaller sample sizes of “really good”. So far, has not sustained to a point of being beyond a solid 3/4 and I don’t think it’s all health related. He has had some control issues in his career.
Have to agree with you. I checked out his splits by month in 2023 & 24 and Gore’s all over the place. Some really good months and some really bad ones, to.
He’s been in the league a while now and has always been up and down month to month, showing glimpses of taking the next step, only to spiral out. His 1.35-1.40 WHIP has been remarkably consistent year to year though.
Gore pitched to his career averages, just a touch worse than league average. Over a full season he is an ok #3 and good #4/#5 starter.
You mean after the all star break. One of the things I dislike about baseball.
What’s the point of making Thompson’s IL placement retroactive, with only 6 games remaining?
Big fan of Gore, but he should probably be traded. He has two years before free agency, no one honestly think this will be a playoff team, let alone a contender in two years. Franchise is in absolute disarray. Need a POBO and/or GM, new manager and staff, and even the heads of scouting and draft have departed, so that has to be rebuilt. Can’t even pick before 11th in the upcoming draft. It’s a bad place to be, but also an exciting time-if they make the right hires. I am skeptical, at best.
The Phillies cannot hit him, I bet the Mets or Braves would love to have him.
I am getting PT for a right shoulder impingement
It’s not a good thing to have
I think he is over rated but that is my opinion
Cap – you aren’t wrong and I’ve been saying the same since the trade that he isn’t what people claim he is (I continue to say 3/4) but for context he came into the draft as being unhittable and a SO king. The next Clayton Kershaw was the hype. He has not lived up to it or anywhere close.
He likely settles into a long career as a solid 3/4 with some better time frames and some worse time frames like his splits have shown.
All in all, nothing to complain about. But if you acquired him to be your Ace for 4 years – you outbid your hand.
And I’m not trying to knock him but I’ve watched his career since the draft and he is what he has shown.
He kind of reminds me of another Nationals pitcher-Gio Gonzalez.
Great pitcher but that arm needs surgery at sometime
Nats should have cashed in on Gore at the trade deadline.
His trade value has gone down quite a bit. He should have been traded.