Logan Webb remains the unquestioned leader of the San Francisco Giants’ pitching staff, the one arm the organization can reliably lean on as it looks ahead to the upcoming season. However, if the Giants want to realistically contend with the Dodgers, Padres, and the rest of a challenging NL West, they cannot enter 2026 relying solely on Webb. Strengthening the starting rotation has become a top priority, and the front office is expected to be active in pursuing additions over the winter.
There are two clear avenues the Giants can pursue: diving into the free-agent pool or turning to the trade market. Several prominent starting pitchers have been discussed as potential targets. Among them are Luis Severino, who brings high-end stuff when healthy; Sandy Alcantara, a former Cy Young winner whose future remains uncertain as Miami weighs its long-term direction; and Kris Bubic, a younger left-hander who could be available as the Royals continue reshaping their roster. Each pitcher offers a different blend of risk and upside, and San Francisco is expected to at least gauge the price tags.
One name that has generated increasing buzz is Washington Nationals left-hander MacKenzie Gore. Gore, once one of baseball’s most highly regarded pitching prospects, is coming off a season that showcased both growth and untapped ceiling.
According to The Athletic’s Jim Bowden, the Giants could feasibly put together an appealing trade package without sacrificing their top-tier prospects. Bowden suggested that a combination of young southpaws such as Jacob Bresnahan or Carson Whisenhunt might be enough to draw serious interest from Washington.
In Bowden’s view, this potential swap aligns well with the needs of both organizations. San Francisco is trying to acquire affordable starting pitchers who still have significant developmental potential without tying themselves into an extended financial commitment. Gore, who remains under team control for several years, fits that profile perfectly. Meanwhile, the Nationals are prioritizing controllable young pitching as they continue their rebuild, making the Giants’ pool of emerging left-handers a natural match for what Washington is seeking.
With the offseason still unfolding, Gore is far from the only option on the board, but he represents the type of pitcher the Giants are expected to pursue: talented, relatively inexpensive, and capable of becoming a long-term rotation fixture. If San Francisco is serious about closing the gap in the division, upgrades to the starting staff will be essential—and Gore may be one of the most realistic and impactful paths to achieving that goal.
A tale of two halves for Gore
MacKenzie Gore’s rough 5–15 win–loss record from this past season doesn’t paint an accurate picture of his individual ability, as it was largely influenced by Washington’s ineffective offense. The Nationals often struggled to provide run support, leaving Gore with little margin for error and causing his record to look far worse than his actual performance on the mound.
Despite a shaky opening month in April, Gore quickly settled in and emerged as one of the National League’s most impressive pitchers during May and June. In that stretch, he consistently delivered quality outings, showing improved command, poise, and an ability to work deep into games.
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One of his highlights came on June 4 against the Chicago Cubs, when the left-hander dominated over seven scoreless frames. He yielded only two hits, struck out seven batters, and showcased the elite swing-and-miss stuff that made him a highly regarded young pitcher. Performances like that reminded observers why he was once considered a top prospect with frontline potential.
However, Gore couldn’t sustain that level of dominance through the second half of the season. The summer months proved challenging, marking one of the more inconsistent stretches of his four-year career.
His ERA ballooned to 6.75 in July, dipped only slightly to 5.92 in August, and eventually settled at 4.38 in September. While those numbers show some stabilization at the end of the year, the overall second-half performance left room for improvement and raised questions about his durability and command as the long season wore on.
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A change of scenery could prove beneficial for the 26-year-old, especially considering the pitching-friendly nature of Oracle Park. San Francisco’s home ballpark has long been known to suppress offensive production, particularly home runs, which could help Gore tap into his strengths more consistently. Working in front of a stronger defense and within a more established pitching infrastructure might also aid in his development and give him the support he lacked in Washington.
Looking ahead, Gore remains under team control for several more seasons, as he is not slated to hit free agency until after the 2027 campaign. That timeline offers any acquiring team multiple years to help him refine his craft and potentially grow into a reliable rotation cornerstone.
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