The Texas Rangers officially introduced left-handed pitcher MacKenzie Gore at Globe Life Field following his trade from the Washington Nationals. The 26-year-old All-Star joins a rotation that led baseball with a 3.41 ERA in 2025. Gore expressed excitement about the opportunity to compete for a championship in Texas.
In a press conference at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Thursday, the Texas Rangers welcomed MacKenzie Gore, marking his second trade in four big league seasons. Acquired from the Nationals in exchange for prospects shortstop Gavin Fien, right-hander Alejandro Rosario, infielder Devin Fitz-Gerald, outfielder Yeremy Cabrera, and first baseman Abimelec Ortiz, Gore brings depth to a strong pitching staff. The Rangers' rotation topped Major League Baseball last year with a 3.41 ERA, anchored by co-aces Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi, with Jack Leiter, Kumar Rocker, and Jacob Latz expected to fill out the back end. Cody Bradford is recovering from surgery and aims for a May return. Gore, a 2025 All-Star, posted a 4.17 ERA over 159 2/3 innings in 30 starts for the 96-loss Nationals, including a strong 3.02 ERA in 110 1/3 innings before the All-Star break but struggling to a 6.75 ERA afterward. He set career highs with 185 strikeouts, 14 quality starts, and 3.0 bWAR, nearly qualifying for the ERA title with a 10.43 K/9 rate. His career marks stand at 4.19 ERA and 98 ERA+. 'It'll be great coming here to win,' Gore said. 'I’m really excited to be a part of this group... Really excited to have a good opportunity to win.' He highlighted the chance to learn from veterans like deGrom and Eovaldi. 'The biggest thing is being around them... They've been really good for a long time.' Rangers general manager Ross Fenstermaker praised Gore's potential. 'MacKenzie will have the opportunity to work with [pitching coach] Jordan Tiegs... We think there's a lot of positives here now, and we can continue to level up.' With the Rangers' top-ranked defense and pitcher-friendly Globe Life Field, the organization sees Gore primed for a breakout in 2026.
