Abimelec Ortiz

Out of all the players the Nationals received in the MacKenzie Gore trade, Abimelec Ortiz is the most MLB ready

The Nationals have sent left-hander MacKenzie Gore to the Rangers for a package of five prospects, per announcements from both clubs. The five players are shortstop Gavin Fien, right-hander Alejandro Rosario, first baseman/outfielder Abimelec Ortiz, infielder Devin Fitz-Gerald and outfielder Yeremy Cabrera. Gore and Ortiz were the only players with 40-man spots, so the deal is…

Gore's career 4.19 ERA went mostly unchanged last season, but he did seem to take a step forward with his 27.2% strikeout rate while being held back by one of the game's worst defenses and, in particular, one of its worst catching situations. Things will get quite a bit better in Texas, which offers the additional perk of boasting one of the game's toughest ballparks for right-handed hitters to homer in the last two years. If it holds up -- and it may not, as Globe Life Field really has been all over the map since opening in 2020 -- it's a particularly good match for a flyball lefty in Gore. He'll join Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi atop the Rangers rotation, with Jack Leiter as the heavy favorite for the fourth spot and likely Jacob Latz and Kumar Rocker competing for the fifth spot. The Rangers will pay him $5.8 million this year, and he'll also be under control for 2027 before becoming a free agent.

The Nationals have sent left-hander MacKenzie Gore to the Rangers for a package of five prospects, per announcements from both clubs. The five players are shortstop Gavin Fien, right-hander Alejandro Rosario, first baseman/outfielder Abimelec Ortiz, infielder Devin Fitz-Gerald and outfielder Yeremy Cabrera. Gore and Ortiz were the only players with 40-man spots, so the deal is…

The Nationals are sending left-hander MacKenzie Gore to the Rangers for a package of five prospects, per various reports. The five players are shortstop Gavin Fien, right-hander Alejandro Rosario, first baseman/outfielder Abimelec Ortiz, infielder Devin Fitz-Gerald and outfielder Yeremy Cabrera. Jon Heyman of The New York Post first reported Gore was headed to Texas. Jeff Passan of…