Despite the Washington Nationals facing difficulties during the 2025 season, MacKenzie Gore delivered a notable performance with a 5-15 record, a 4.17 ERA, and 185 strikeouts, which earned him his first All-Star selection. On January 22, the Texas Rangers acquired Gore in a trade that sent Gavin Fien, Alejandro Rosario, Devin Fitz-Gerald, Yeremy Cabrera, and Abimelec Ortiz to Washington.
Following the trade, Gore opened up about what struck him most about his new teammates Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi, expressing enthusiasm for his future with the Rangers.
“I’m fired up,” Gore said (Timestamp: 0:00), via MLB Network’s “30 clubs, 30 Camps.” “I couldn’t have handpicked a better place. Didn’t know where it was going to be, but once I got the news, me and the family were excited. Just being around them has been great.
“You see them from a distance, especially being in the NL, you see them a little bit. Now I’m in the same clubhouse, you kind of really get to understand it. They’re good. I understand why they’ve been good for so long now. I’m looking forward to just trying to keep up with them.”
Setting Ambitious Goals for the 2026 Season with Texas
Gore outlined his aims for continued growth heading into the 2026 season, emphasizing that the Texas Rangers are the ideal organization to help him reach new milestones in his career. After spending five years in professional baseball, he is eager to sustain his development and contribute to a winning team.
“You really appreciate guys that have been doing it well for a long time,” Gore said (Timestamp: 1:08). “It’s not easy. It’s a great game. I’ve learned a lot. It’s crazy, I’m in year five now, and (if I can) just continue to keep improving, I think I’ll be pretty happy.
“Winning is important in anything you’re doing. I felt like it was time in my career to get a win somewhere. I’m excited to be here and the opportunity to win something is going to be awesome.”
Since capturing their first World Series title in 2023, the Rangers have missed the postseason, but fans are optimistic that the addition of Gore to the starting rotation will boost the team’s chances of becoming serious contenders again in 2026.
"I couldn't have hand-picked a better place." – MacKenzie Gore on being traded to the @Rangers
📺 30 Clubs, 30 Camps pic.twitter.com/QhuSmmgWmY
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) March 1, 2026
