MLB Trade Rumors: MacKenzie Gore Goes to the NY Mets In Proposed Deal

The New York Mets have some rotation issues to address this summer. Aside from sensational rookie Nolan McLean, there wasn't a lot to write home about regarding the performance of the Mets' starters in 2025. Even ace Kodai Senga was sent to the minors in September.

And while New York will undoubtedly make a huge pitch to trade for a couple of superstar aces if they become available, like Tarik Skubal and Freddy Peralta, a more realistic target may be MacKenzie Gore of the Washington Nationals.

Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report has suggested the following trade that could bring the former No. 1 prospect to Queens:

New York Mets receive:

LHP MacKenzie Gore

Washington Nationals receive:

RHP Jonah Tong
1B/OF Ryan Clifford

Gore would help shore up the Mets' rotation with a pitcher who has an All-Star nod now on his resume, after posting a 3.02 ERA in the first half of the 2025 season. He struggled in the second half, however, to the tune of a 6.75 ERA, but overall is still looked at as an up-and-coming young pitcher. In fact, if you take out one bad four-start stretch, he had a 3.19 ERA overall.

Tong, just named the Minor League Pitching Prospect of the Year in 2025 after striking out 177 in the minors, has a big future ahead of him... eventually. It works for the rebuilding Nationals, but do the Mets want to wait, or move him for a relatively young pitcher who has already has 102 starts in the majors under his belt?

Clifford is just 22, and is a power-packed 1B/OF (29 homers in 2025 across AA and AAA), who was the Mets' 8th-ranked prospect this year. It's reasonable to wonder, however, if the Mets would feel comfortable giving him up if they can't re-sign first baseman Pete Alonso in free agency.