After failing to secure Edward Cabrera, the New York Yankees appear to be shifting their focus to a different kind of pitching prize in the early days of the 2026 offseason.
With spring training fast approaching and several rotation stalwarts sidelined, the Yankees are now actively engaged in talks to land MacKenzie Gore, the 26-year-old left-hander from the Washington Nationals whose potential has captivated front offices and analysts alike.
Cabrera, once a key target for New York as the club sought reinforcement for a thinning starting staff, was traded to the Chicago Cubs earlier this week, leaving the Yankees scrambling for alternatives.
While former interest in Cabrera underscored how dire the need for pitching had become, that particular avenue has closed, prompting a broader search for impact arms.
Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reported that New York has engaged with Washington about Gore‘s availability and has also discussed Freddy Peralta of the Milwaukee Brewers as part of its trade market activity.
A strategic, if complicated, shift
The interest in Gore comes amid a rotation crisis unlike any the Yankees have faced in recent memory.
Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, and Clarke Schmidt are all expected to miss significant time while recovering from offseason elbow surgeries, leaving the Bronx Bombers with glaring holes at the top of the rotation.
Gore, a first-round pick in 2017, was part of the major package the Washington Nationals received in the Juan Soto trade and has developed into a frontline starter with All-Star credentials.
He avoided arbitration with Washington on Thursday, agreeing to a $5.6 million salary for the 2026 season, a modest price tag for a pitcher with his upside.
In 2025, he logged 159 2/3 innings with a 4.17 ERA and 185 strikeouts, demonstrating the high-leverage strikeout stuff that appeals to analytics-driven front offices, despite some inconsistency over the full season.
“The Yankees have remained engaged with other available options, including talks with the Nationals about lefthander MacKenzie Gore and with the Brewers about righthander Freddy Peralta,” Hoch said in his report.
From a strategic standpoint, Gore offers the Yankees a blend of controllable years. He has two remaining seasons before free agency and significant strikeout potential.
That combination is especially attractive given New York‘s parallel pursuits, including the expected effort to retain slugger Cody Bellinger, which could absorb a sizable chunk of luxury payroll space.
Yet the Nationals are understood to be demanding a hefty prospect package, and talks have not yet yielded a firm agreement.
MLB teams across the league have been inquiring about Gore‘s availability, making him one of the more widely discussed rotation candidates on the market.
For New York, the calculus is multilayered: adding Gore could stabilize a rotation in crisis, but it also requires surrendering young talent that might be needed for the Yankees‘ longterm sustainability.
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