Nationals’ Star Pitcher Drawing Serious Trade Interest From Cubs

Nationals’ Star Pitcher Drawing Serious Trade Interest From Cubs originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

It's no secret that the Chicago Cubs are looking for starting pitching at the 2025 MLB trade deadline. The Cubs lost their ace, Justin Steele, at the beginning of the season, and the back half of their rotation hasn't been able to give them consistent, reliable innings.

Chicago relied on All-Star pitcher Matthew Boyd, who's having the best overall season of his career, and Shota Imanaga. Boyd boasts a 2.20 ERA across 118.2 innings pitched this season, and Imanaga holds a respectable 3.12 ERA across 78 innings.

After that, rookie starter Cade Horton has put together a strong season with a 3.67 ERA across nearly 70 innings. Then it gets murky for the Cubs' starters. Colin Rea and Jameson Taillon have ERAs over four, and Ben Brown, who's spent time between the majors and Triple-A, has struggled with an ERA over six.

Boyd has been the ace the Cubs have needed, and Imanaga has shown flashes of his ace ability, but Chicago will look to add another arm to strengthen the group at the deadline.

Matthew Boyd has now thrown 23 consecutive scoreless innings 😤 pic.twitter.com/Ia6qiuQSP7

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 23, 2025

The Athletic's Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma recently reported the Cubs are very interested in Washington Nationals' starting pitcher Mackenzie Gore, if he becomes available.

"The Cubs are very interested in MacKenzie Gore, a top-of-the-rotation arm under team control through 2027. A blockbuster deal with the Washington Nationals would set the Cubs up for the playoffs and eliminate an offseason need. The cost to acquire Gore, however, is currently viewed as sky-high," Mooney and Sharma wrote. "It’s also unclear whether Washington’s interim general manager, Mike DeBartolo, is really in a position to make such a monumental decision."

Gore has put together the best season of his career in 2025, recording a 3.52 ERA in his 21 games started. The Nationals' pitcher has thrown 117.2 innings and recorded 144 strikeouts.

The Cubs would likely have to give up at least one of their top prospects to acquire Gore, and the name everyone would wonder about is Chicago's top outfield prospect, Owen Caissie, who's been red-hot lately in Triple-A. However, the Cubs might listen on a top prospect or two with Gore having another two years of team control.

If Gore is traded, it wouldn't be the first time. Except this time, he would be the star piece of the trade, leaving Washington.

"Gore, 26, was one of several key pieces the Nationals received from the San Diego Padres after dealing Juan Soto, which was supposed to accelerate Washington’s rebuild. While that project has stalled, Gore is blossoming," Mooney and Sharma wrote. "He ranks sixth in baseball in strikeout rate (29.3 percent), and his 3.52 ERA would likely improve by pitching in front of one of the best defenses in baseball. For reference, Gore is at the same contractual point where the Nationals, under different leadership, decided to trade Soto."

Many starting pitching names have been floating around in the Cubs' trade talks, but Gore is an elite option for Chicago. With the deadline just a few days away, moves should happen soon.

Related: Cubs’ Ian Happ Reveals His Respect, Excitement on Tight NL Central Race With Brewers

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 28, 2025, where it first appeared.