MacKenzie Gore Trade Reportedly Not 'Close' amid Cubs Interest, MLB Rumors

Having already acquired Mike Soroka from the Washington Nationals, the Chicago Cubs are still making a push for All-Star left-hander MacKenzie Gore.

Per Jon Heyman of the New York Post and MLB Network, a deal involving Gore is not "close" at this point, with the Cubs among several teams talking to the Nationals.

The Cubs added reinforcements to their rotation on Wednesday by acquiring Soroka for prospects Christian Franklin and Ronny Cruz.

While Soroka gives the Cubs another arm who could potentially eat innings, Gore would be a difference-maker in a pennant race if a trade were to get done.

There has been growing skepticism that the Nationals will move Gore. Heyman reported on Tuesday that virtually every playoff contender checked in to ask about the 26-year-old, but most teams came away feeling like he was going to stay with Washington.

The cost to land Gore would be off the charts considering he is under team control through the 2027 season. ESPN's Kiley McDaniel (h/t Jesse Rogers of ESPN) noted the Nationals would want rookie third baseman Matt Shaw as the "key player" from the Cubs, but he's "not on the table."

Washington's asking price for Gore may have actually gone up as the deadline has gotten closer considering what the Philadelphia Phillies gave up for closer Jhoan Durán and San Diego Padres dealt to the Athletics for Mason Miller and JP Sears.

Gore was named to the All-Star team this season for the first time in his career. The southpaw has a 3.80 ERA with 148 strikeouts in 123 innings across 22 starts. He has averaged more than nine strikeouts per nine innings in each of his four seasons.

The Cubs' rotation has a 4.05 ERA, tied for 16th in MLB. Matthew Boyd and Shota Imanaga are their only starters with a sub-4.00 ERA in at least 70 innings pitched.

Chicago currently has the second-best record in the NL, but it is one game behind the Milwaukee Brewers for the top spot in the NL Central, with the two teams having five head-to-head games remaining in the regular season.