The Chicago Cubs have needed to add a starting pitcher to their roster for months now. They’ve been connected to pitchers like Sandy Alcántara and Seth Lugo, but there’s a chance they take a shot on the best name on the market.

The Athletic’s Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma recently reported the Cubs were “very interested” in a trade for Washington Nationals ace MacKenzie Gore. Gore’s under team control until 2028, and Spotrac projects him to sign a $157 million contract when he gets there.

“The Cubs are very interested in MacKenzie Gore, a top-of-the-rotation arm under team control through 2027,” they wrote. “A blockbuster deal with the Washington Nationals would set the Cubs up for the playoffs and eliminate an offseason need. The cost to acquire Gore, however, is currently viewed as sky-high. It’s also unclear whether Washington’s interim general manager, Mike DeBartolo, is really in a position to make such a monumental decision.”

It seems like a trade for Gore is unlikely because of his incredible trade value. The Cubs would need to cut ties with prospects like Cade Horton, Owen Caissie or Kevin Alcántara in order to land Gore. It seems unlikely, but it was also unlikely the Cubs could pull off a trade for Kyle Tucker.

Chicago is one of the only teams in baseball that’s aggressive enough to make a deal like this. Still, it seems like a long shot.

At the end of the day, it’s unlikely. Gore is under team control for a few more seasons, so the Nationals have no reason to cut ties with him. Washington could be competitive by the time his deal runs out, so trading him doesn’t make too much sense.