The Rangers pulled off what might be the biggest trade of this year's Hot Stove League by acquiring much-discussed target, Mackenzie Gore LHP, from the Nationals for 5 prospects. Let's break it down:
Rangers Get:
Mackenzie Gore LHP. DOB: 2/24/1999. 6' 2", 193 lbs. Arbitration Eligible. Free Agent 2028.
2025(Nationals): 5-15, 4.17, 159.2 IP, 10.43 K/9, 3.61 BB/9, 0.91 GB/FB.
Gore has long been projected to be a future ace but he's now 4 seasons into a MLB career and has a career ERA over 4. What has he done to earn that acclaim. He has impressive stuff and some interesting peripheral numbers but he is a flyball pitcher with inconsistent command who is susceptible to gofer balls. Rangers have 2 years to see if he turns into an ace but they gave up a haul to get him.
Nationals Get:
Gavin Fien SS. DOB: 3/8/2007. B-R, T-R. 6' 3", 200 lbs. Rule 5 Eligible Dec. 2029.
2025(A): .220/.267/.341, SB, 6.7 BB%, 24.4 K%, 45 PA.
Rangers first round draft pick in 2025 out of HS, #12 overall. Big for a SS and will probably eventually move to 3B. Scouting report has power over hit. A ball is an aggressive placement for a newly drafted HS player but Fien has a long way to go before he us MLB ready.
Alejandro Rosario RHP. DOB: 1/6/2000. 6' 1", 182 lbs. Rule 5 Eligible Dec. 2026.
Drafted in 5'th round 2023 out of college(Miami) had a tremendous 2024 season but missed all of 2025 with an elbow injury(presumably UCL and Tommy John surgery).
Abimelec Ortiz 1B/OF. DOB: 2/22/2002. B-L, T-L. 5' 10", 230 lbs. MLB Roster, 3 Options.
Devin Fitz-Gerald IF. DOB: 8/17/2005. B-S, T-R. 5' 10", 185 lbs. Rule 5 Eligible Dec. 2028.
Yeremy Cabrera OF. DOB: 7/2/2005. B-L, T-L, 5' 11", 155 lbs. Rule 5 Eligible Dec. 2026.
2025(A): .256/.364/.366, 8 HR, 43 SB, 11.5 BB%, 19.1 K%, 451 PA.
Speed is best tool. Can get to the ball in the OF. Some pop in the bat.
Comment: Gore was arguably the top trade target of this year's Hot Stove League but on-field production lags behind the hype. Nationals get a nice haul of prospects although none are a lock to ever be impact players at the MLB level. Comparable package for Giants would have started with Gavin Kilen.
The only player I would want in this whole list is Rosario, but that’s because of my ‘Weshould start a TJ rehabclininc at ACL’
ReplyDelete/ PH
Welcome back, PH! I am sure we have both had a lot of water pass under the bridge, so to speak, in our lives since we last chatted online about prospects. I would love to see if there is a minor league game somewhere we could take in a game together someday.
DeleteProspect Hound!!
DeleteWow, you guys are taking me back to the days we were all contributing to the SFGiants.com forums! Lol. Good times. That was where I enjoyed the emergence of Cain and Lincecum and all the rest, back before you kicked off your own blog, Doc!
Cheers gents.
Are there any of DrB's 2026 Giants Top 50 Prospects List you would be very hesitant to trade except for a proven producer?
ReplyDeleteKyle Harrison was once a #1 and was traded for a proven producer. Tibbs was pretty high and went in the same trade.
You mention #6 Kilen – would he be the top of what you might have traded for Gore?
Is no one untouchable to trade for someone like Devers?
I'd give up a comparable package or even better starting with Kilen for a year of Joe Ryan, but not for two of Gore.
ReplyDeleteThere is an article in SFGate by Dave Tobener expressing his disappointment in Buster for his lack of activity this offseason. He basically says it feels like Farhan was handed back the keys to the castle and wonders why Posey traded for Devers just to sit on the sidines all offseason. Really hard to argue with him seeing all the movement going on and nothing worth even mentioning from the Giants. I have to say that one could argue both ways but it is much easier to argue in favor of making moves even if it was for a guy like Gore who hasn’t reached his potential yet. That’s kinda what good GM’s do is trade for guys like that on the verge of a breakout season. Gore had a great first half last year then faded but he is left handed and probably would have fit in great here. Bad GM’s like Farhan tend to come up with excuses as to why they didn’t sign anyone and expect to get credit for not making mistakes because they took no risks. Posey is starting to look a lot like that kind of GM and patience is wearing thin.
ReplyDeleteAside from half dozen of the active teams such as Dodger, Pirates, NY, and Toronto, most teams appear to be laying low and most likely because of the potential work stoppage in 2027. Other teams have similar write ups. I am aware of that because my system has a VPN which changes my location and I see articles from other regions. Same complaints about most other teams and especially the Padres.
DeleteThe Giants should not be trading away the kinds of players that they should be trying to accumulate. Their scouting is a lot stronger than it was a couple of years ago so I think they have a better handle on their evaluations.
DeleteSorry. For some reason my reply button is not working. I definitely would not trade Bryce Eldridge, Josuar Gonzalez or Luis Hernandez. I would be reluctant to trade Bo Davidson or Jhonny Level. Pretty much everybody else could be included in a trade for proven short term MLB talent. As for this offseason, another reminder it is not over yet and Buster has been known to lie in the weeds on deals. While I wish some of this was settled last season, I do think there is something to be said for maintaining space for young players like Bryce Eldridge and Casey Schmitt to break out as well as young pitchers like Trevor McDonald and Blade Tidwell. If you squint hard you might even include Drew Gilbert in that category.
ReplyDeleteBuster is waiting for the market to come to him....
ReplyDeleteBut, what if there''s no one left?
As it stands, the Giants will start the season maybe somewhat better than last year: Devers and a rotation with no surprises or obvious patches, but RF intentionally weaker without YtY and with a big ! for closer.
Still could be a trade is someone values the SF pipeline more than Buster, which seems a bit thin after Kilen.
Succeeding with what they have means beating some teams that were better than they were last year and AZ and ATL.
It's baseball, so anything can happen even teams with very poor odds.
If there is no one left they'll let the kids play and I'm OK with that. And I don't agree the system is thin after Kilen.
DeleteAgree the system is not thin after Kilen. Thats why I thought they have enough depth to complete trades, but thats hard to predict
DeleteEven Baseball America says the Giants system has depth, and they are a tough crowd to please.
DeleteDoc i would be interested to hear your thoughts on Baggs article today on the Giants being rebuffed on their trade proposals for CJ Abrams. It says josuar gonzalez was part of the discussion and Baggs pointed out that the Giants may be over valuing their prospects, part of the reason they've had a frustrating off-season making trades. Even pavs said they've been frustrated all off season agreeing on trades. I agree that the article said they know they have to do something. No sense spending all that $ on their handful of core players and not make improvements around them now before they age. I like Buster and Zack but their inability to agree on a decent trade this offseasob makes them looks bad. Sorry if you don't like negative comments on the front office, I try not to.
ReplyDeleteWith all due respect to Baggs, who is a solid reporter and seems to have some major insider contacts in the front office, the Abrams story seems a little far-fetched to me. Abrams isn't going to be a free agent until 2029 so it's hard for me to believe he is available for trade at all. If he is it will surely take a whole lot more than Josuar Gonzalez to land him and I am sure Buster and Zach are well aware of that. There does seem to be some chaos in the Nationals front office and maybe Buster and Zach took a flyer hoping the could catch them off guard. But I don't think this story reflects on the Giants farm system in any way.
DeleteThanks Doc, yup I think if they include Josuer Gonzalez in any trade they'll regret it. His value could go way up if he has a good 2026 season maybe moving up to a top 10 prospect in the entire MLB. Just hope they don't do anything stupid out of despiration.
DeleteDoc, I agree with you about the Abrams story. Baggarly is an excellent reporter but his source probably either has the scenario wrong or out of proportion. Doing nothing may not be the coolest thing to do but making a bad trade or making a trade for the sake of appearing to something can lead to something far worse.
DeleteJosuar could be a stud and top 20 prospect in all of baseball as early as next year, but so was Marco Luciano a few years back. I understand they have different skill sets, but prospects have to have a lot go right to succeed, especially health. On the flip side, I really like his speed and hit profile. I always wanted a Jose Reyes player to hit lead off for the giants and can dream on Josuar for that. However, CJ Abrams was a former top 10 prospect who is exactly what we would hope Josuar to become. I would overpay for CJ if he would play 2b for the foreseeable future. I would like to avoid losing Bryce, but anyone else is fair game to me as long as it not both shortstops.
DeleteLike I said, it would obviously take a lot more than Josuar Gonzalez to get the Nationals to trade CJ Abrams and that's not a knock on Josuar.
DeleteThe Nationals have Eli Willits in their system and the centerpiece of the Gore trade was another 18 year old shortstop. They have an 89 million dollar payroll and no need to trade away Abrams. He is part of a young core with James Woods and Dylan Crews. I am certain the Nationals would much rather use Abrams to try and improve in 2026 vs trading him for more 18 year old shortstops like Josur and or Level. The Giants are bad trade partners with the Nats. I think Baggs is wrong, this has nothing to do with the strength of the Giants system.
DeleteVery hypothetical question: what are your thoughts on the optics of potentially trading Josuar or Luis so soon after signing them? It seems like that could undermine future signings, especially in a market the organization has invested so heavily in.
DeleteI think it's a small but significant problem. International signings seem to be heavily dependent on relationships. On the other hand, as long and the player and agent get their money it's probably not a future dealbreaker.
DeleteCould eventually lead to credibility problems for the Giants
DeleteDidn’t Abrams face some sort of disciplinary action by the team in the past? Perhaps he is beyond that now but maybe Giants dodged a bullet and get to keep Josuar and other top prospects.
ReplyDeleteAbrams was out all night at a Chicago casino until 8 AM before a day game at Wrigley. Probably nothing to see here.
DeleteAbrams was demoted to the minors by manager Dave Martinez for part of 2024 season after spending all night at a Chicago casino while the Nationals played the Cubs in a day game the next day.. not a smart thing to do.
ReplyDeleteSabin Ceballos probably should have been an Honorable Mention. I know he finished strong but the first 3 months were so brutal it's hard to get past that. Hope he gets off to a hot start in 2026 and proves the last 2 months were not just a sample size blip.
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