The Texas Rangers landed the most coveted arm remaining on the trade market when they acquired MacKenzie Gore from the Washington Nationals in exchange for five prospects, according to a person with knowledge of the deal.
The person spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because the deal has not yet been announced.
Gore, 26, earned his first All-Star nod in 2025, and while he faded a bit in the second half, still possesses one of the most dominant left-handed arms in the game. He established career highs in strikeouts (185) and strikeouts per inning (10.4) last season for Washington.
Part of the return package includes shortstop Gavin Fien, the Washington Post reported, as the No. 12 overall pick in the 2025 draft joins the No. 1 overall, Eli Willits, in Washington’s system.
The Rangers finished last season 81-81, their second consecutive non-winning season since taking the 2023 World Series. They traded second baseman Marcus Semien to the New York Mets, non-tendered slugger Adolis Garcia and have been relatively quiet this offseason otherwise.
Now, they can slot Gore between the right-handers Nathan Eovaldi and Jacob deGrom atop the rotation, giving them a potentially dominant starting pitching look.
That’s assuming Gore, whose fastball reaches 98 mph, cleans up some of his peripherals. He posted a 1.35 WHIP last season and walked 3.6 batters per nine innings.
Gore joined Washington as one of the centerpieces of the blockbuster 2022 deal that sent Juan Soto to San Diego. While the trade worked out splendidly for the Nationals, with Gore, shortstop CJ Abrams and slugger James Wood emerging as foundational pieces, the Nationals lost 91, 91 and 96 games in the three full seasons since that deal.
Their most recent struggles preceded the firing of manager Dave Martinez and longtime GM Mike Rizzo. Now, the original rebuilding structure is getting torn down as new GM Paul Toboni tries to construct a winner anew.
In addition to Fien, a high school draftee from Temecula, Calif., the Nationals will receive right-hander Alejandro Rosario, a 24-year-old who sat out all of last season. Abimelec Ortiz (Class AAA outfielder, 23), Devin Fitz-Gerald (Class A infielder, 20) and Yeremy Cabrera (Class A outfielder, 20) are also headed to Washington.
MacKenzie Gore trade details
Texas Rangers receive:
Washington Nationals receive:
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New York Mets right fielder Carlos Beltran hits a double in the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on July 6, 2011. Carlos Beltr‡n was an exceptional switch-hitting center fielder who played 20 seasons in Major League Baseball, known for his rare combination of power, speed, and defense.
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New York Mets right fielder Carlos Beltran hits a double in the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on July 6, 2011. Carlos Beltr‡n was an exceptional switch-hitting center fielder who played 20 seasons in Major League Baseball, known for his rare combination of power, speed, and defense.
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New York Mets center fielder Carlos Beltran in action against the Houston Astros in the first inning at Minute Maid Park in 2010. Beltran amassed 2,725 hits, 435 home runs, 1,587 RBIs, and 312 stolen bases across seven different teams.
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Carlos Beltran of the Kansas Royals signs a fans program before the game against the Chicago White Sox at Comiskey Park in Chicago on July 8, 1999. Beltran began his career with the Royals in 1999.
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Houston Astros players Yuli Gurriel (10) , Carlos Beltran (15) and George Springer (4) celebrate after defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 7 of the 2017 World Series at Dodger Stadium. Beltran won his only World Series with the Astos.
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Carlos Beltran celebrates after hitting a home run against the Atlanta Braves in Game 5 of the 2004 NLDS.
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Carlos Beltran H celebrates after hitting a solo home run in the top of the ninth inning in Game 3 of the 2004 NLCS.
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New York Mets center fielder Carlos Beltran gets ready to hit during the seventh inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on June 10, 2006. Beltran joined the Mets in 2005.
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St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Carlos Beltran (3) poses with his National League All Star Game jersey before a game against the Miami Marlins at Busch Stadium on July 6, 2012. Beltran was an All Star nine times.
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St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Carlos Beltran (back) steals second base against San Francisco Giants second baseman Marco Scutaro (front) during the first inning of Game 7 of the 2012 NLCS at AT&T Park on October. 22, 2012. Beltran finished his career with 312 stolen bases.
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St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Carlos Beltran hits a single, one of 2,725 hits, against the Chicago Cubs during the third inning at Wrigley Field on July 12, 2013.
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Carlos Beltran heads for first after he hit his 400th career home run in the seventh inning against the Chicago White Sox at Yankee Stadium on May 15, 2016 in the Bronx. Beltran would end his career with 435 home runs.
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Know for power hitting and great defense, Andruw Jones best years were with the Atlanta Braves from 1996-2007.
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Atlanta Braves player Andruw Jones watches his second home run fly out of the park in the third inning of Game One of the World Series against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in New York 20 October. Jones, the youngest player to hit a home run in the World Series, had two home runs in his first two at bats. Jones was the youngest player to hit home run in postseason at age 19.
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Andruw Jones of the Atlanta Braves looks on during a game against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field in Denver, Colo. on Sept. 12, 1996. Andruw Jones played 17 seasons, primarily with the Atlanta Braves, from his debut in 1996 until his last MLB game in 2012, also playing for the Dodgers, Rangers, White Sox, and Yankees, before finishing his career in Japan in 2013.
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Atlanta Braves outfielder Andruw Jones makes a diving catch during the seventh inning against the Chicago Cubs at Turner Field in Atlanta, Ga in 2007. Andruw Jones won the Gold Glove Award 10 times, all consecutively from 1998 to 2007
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Andruw Jones of the Atlanta Braves follows through on a first inning three-run home run against the Philadelphia Phillies at Turner Field on April 23, 2005 in Atlanta, Georgia. Jones had 51 home runs in 2005.
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National League All-Star outfielder Andruw Jones of the Atlanta Braves watches practice for the 77th MLB All-Star Game against the American League All-Stars at PNC Park on July 11, 2006 in Pittsburgh, Pa. Andruw Jones was an MLB All-Star five times, selected in 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, and 2006
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Andruw Jones #25 is greeted by A.J. Pierzynski #12 and Mark Kotsay #7 of the Chicago White Sox at home plate after hitting Jones hit his 400th career home run in 2010.
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Andruw Jones hits a home run during the fourth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on July 7, 2012. Jones was with the Yankees for two years hitting 27 home runs.
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Atlanta Braves Chipper Jones (R) and Andruw Jones (L) celebrate after both players scored on a double by Andres Gallaraga against the New York Mets in the top of the seventh inning Sept. 26, 2000 at Shea Stadium in Flushing, NY. Andruw Jones and Chipper Jones are legendary former teammates for the Atlanta Braves, known for their dominant partnership in the late 1990s and 2000s, forming the core of the team alongside Greg Maddux and John Smoltz as they won numerous division titles and appeared in the World Series.
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Center fielder Andruw Jones #25 of the Atlanta Braves makes a catch against the wall despite colliding with right fielder J.D. Drew #7 on a fly ball hit by Jayson Werth of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the third inning at Dodger Stadium on August 21, 2004 in Los Angeles, Calif. Jones was known for his great defense and won 10 Gold Gloves.
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Hall of Fame inductee Jeff Kent poses for a picture along with Hall of Fame President Josh Rawitch and Chairman of the Board Jane Forbes Clark during the 2025 MLB Winter Meetings on Dec. 8, 2025 in Orlando.
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Jeff Kent of the Toronto Blue Jays watches the ball at the Toronto Skydome in Toronto, Canada on January 1, 1992. Kent began his 17 seasons in the MLB with the Blue Jays in 1992.
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Los Angeles Dodgers pinch hitter Jeff Kent bats during 12-4 victory over the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium on Sept. 24, 2008. Kent retire from baseball in 2009.
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San Francisco Giant Jeff Kent watches his two-run home run head for the fence as Anaheim Angels catcher Bengie Molina and home plate umpire Mike Reilly watch in the sixth inning in Game Five in the World Series in San Francisco on Oct. 24, 2002. Jeff Kent was a four-time Silver Slugger Award winner (2000-2002, 2005) .
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Winner of the 2000 National League’s Most Valuable Player San Francisco Giants second baseman Jeff Kent is shown in this Oct. 4, 2000, file photo playing a ground ball against the New York Mets in San Francisco. Kent became the first second baseman in 16 years to capture baseball’s most coveted award presented by the Baseball Writers Association of America.
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San Francisco Giant Jeff Kent pumps his fist after hitting a two-run home run against the Anaheim Angels in the sixth inning in Game 5 of the 2002 World Series.
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Jeff Kent of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a two run home run in the first inning against the San Francisco Giants in during the Opening Day game at Dodger Stadium on March 31, 2008 in Los Angeles, Calif. Kent ended his career with 377 home runs, the MLB record for a second baseman.
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Second baseman Jeff Kent of the San Francisco Giants dives as he throws the ball during game three of the National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves at Pac Bell Park in San Francisco, California on Oct. 5, 2002. Kent played in 2,298 games over 17 seasons.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MacKenzie Gore trade to Rangers details as Washington deals All-Star
