Welcome to the 2025-26 version of Smash or Move, during which we check out potential free agent and commerce targets and decide whether or not the Pink Sox ought to pursue them and, if that’s the case, what it could take to land them. Immediately we begin our collection by trying to find the elusive “quantity 2” to pair with Garrett Crochet.
Who’s he and the place does he come from?
He’s left-handed pitcher MacKenzie Gore, at the moment of the Washington Nationals. He was drafted by the San Diego Padres and traded as a part of the deal that despatched Juan Soto from Washington to San Diego. As an apart, isn’t it loopy that Juan Soto was traded twice? How do you’ve got that man in your group and resolve you’d reasonably have somebody who isn’t him in your group as an alternative? Anyway, Gore comes from the commerce block. I don’t know the place the commerce block is geographically positioned, however I’d think about it’s close to the waiver wire and the switch portal.
Gore’s 159.2 innings have been simply shy of qualifying for leaderboards, however his 10.4 Okay/9 mark would have positioned him fourth in baseball. That’s good! His 3.6 BB/9 mark would have positioned him seventh in baseball. That’s not good! Walks have been a part of Gore’s sport for every of his 4 seasons within the huge leagues, which could possibly be a priority, but it surely’s partly by design. Gore is what I’d name a “nibbler”, particularly towards right-handed hitters. He throws his fastball within the zone regularly, however none of his secondary pitches land within the zone towards righties greater than 40% of the time. It led to him strolling 9.9% of righties, together with a .259 batting common. His changeup was glorious at inducing whiffs with a 20.8% swinging strike price, but it surely was solely within the zone about 25% of the time. His curveball carried out effectively at occasions, but in addition wasn’t within the zone sufficient to hold his arsenal towards righties.
Whereas there are causes to love Gore towards righties, specifically his changeup, he wants one other pitch to throw for strikes. If the Pink Sox have been to accumulate the lefty, they could look to extend his cutter utilization. As is, he used the pitch 6% of the time towards righties, but it surely was primarily a two-strike providing thrown to the again foot. The motion profile may not have sufficient raise to dwell up and in, however he might attempt throwing it to the again door for known as strikes.
Towards lefties, Gore is best. He makes use of a fastball and slider, mixing in his curveball sparingly as effectively. His fastball returns respectable swing-and-miss numbers, however was hit exhausting at occasions. The form permits him to overlook within the zone some, but when he can command the ball to the highest of the zone constantly, he’ll be much more profitable at limiting exhausting contact. The slider was dominant, residing low and glove-side for a 21.8% swinging strike price. Lefties hit .235 towards Gore, and there’s no motive to consider he’ll take a step again in that division.
TL;DR, simply give me his 2025 stats.
30 G, 159.1 IP, 152 H, 64 BB, 185 Okay, 20 HR, 4.17 ERA, 27.2% Okay%, 9.8% BB%
Why would he be a very good match for the Pink Sox?
When Andrew Bailey was employed as pitching coach, one space that was emphasised was the power to win within the strike zone. One of the best pitch you may throw is a strike. Should you can throw pitches within the zone, and hitters nonetheless can’t hit them, you’ll probably do fairly effectively. In 2025, exterior of Garrett Crochet (and later Connelly Early), the Pink Sox severely lacked on this division. Lucas Giolito’s 10.6% mark ranked third amongst Pink Sox starters, and 143/260 amongst starters with not less than 100 pitches thrown within the zone.
Gore’s in-zone swinging strike price was 14.1% in 2025, thirty fifth amongst qualifiers, and two spots behind Crochet. He was in a position to generate whiffs within the zone along with his changeup, slider, and, to a lesser extent, his fastball. He additionally reveals traits that Craig Breslow has focused throughout his time as Pink Sox Chief Baseball Officer. Gore’s fastball is tough and flat. He additionally reveals nearly seven ft of extension, putting him within the 86th percentile in that class. The Pink Sox need a quantity two starter, and Gore’s capability to strike hitters out, taking part in off a fastball, provides him the prospect to be that pitcher.
Why received’t he be a very good match for the Pink Sox?
When Gore was in highschool, he wore primary as a result of he was the smallest participant on his group. They received the state championship, and he caught with the quantity. If the Pink Sox traded for Gore, he’d should discover a new quantity. The quantity 11 is offered. Gore can be a pleasant comfort prize for all of these individuals who purchased Rafael Devers jerseys in Might 2025.
Fan attire reclamation apart, the Pink Sox need a pitcher to pair with Crochet, and it’s not clear that Gore has the size to be that man. Gore has glorious stuff that retains the ball out of play so much, and because of this, he doesn’t work deep into video games. Over 30 begins, he recorded outs within the seventh inning simply twice. He accomplished six innings precisely 14 occasions, which is nice, however you’d wish to see your second starter get by way of seven or eight innings every now and then. It’s not the most important deal on the earth, particularly with the Pink Sox’s pitching depth, however innings are vital over 162 video games.
Gore is below contract by way of 2027. MLBTradeRumors estimates he’ll make $4.7 million in arbitration for the approaching season, which isn’t an enormous price ticket. Assuming he pitches effectively in 2026, he’ll get a pleasant bump in his last yr of management, but it surely received’t be a quantity that may make your eyes come out of your head. So far as commerce compensation goes, I’m not the man to ask about specifics. Former Pink Sox Assistant GM Paul Toboni took over as head of the Nationals’ baseball operations division and took different entrance workplace members with him. He’s extremely accustomed to the Pink Sox system, which ought to assist facilitate commerce conversations.
Present me a cool spotlight.
How about putting out 13 on opening day? That’s fairly cool.
I normally come away from these with fairly sturdy opinions. With Gore, I’m torn, which tells me he most likely isn’t the man I would like because the Pink Sox’s quantity two starter. On the similar time, the rotation lacks swing-and-miss stuff behind Crochet, and Gore has that. He’s type of within the Blake Snell mould, the place he’ll be irritating to look at, however work his method out of jams, and that works. I suppose I’ll say smash, with the caveat that there are different pitchers I’d choose over Gore.
