The Washington Nationals have one of the most intriguing potential trade candidates in the starting pitching market right now.
Foster Griffin hadn't touched a big league mound since 2022 before joining the Nationals ahead of the 2026 season. Griffin looks like a completely different guy now and earned his first career All-Star nod this season after pitching over in Japan over the last few years. Right now, Griffin has a 2.68 ERA in 20 starts and is going to be a free agent after the 2026 season.
There are plenty of teams out there looking for pitching and Griffin can solve that need for a contender. There are eyes on him right now all over the place and The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon reported that rival executives around the league think a Griffin trade is "inevitable."
"Some rival executives believe a Foster Griffin trade is inevitable," Rosenthal and Sammon wrote. "The Washington Nationals, however, are still assessing whether to deal, extend or keep the starting pitcher through the end of the season, according to people familiar with the club’s thinking who were granted anonymity to speak freely.
"If the Nationals end up engaging with other teams on Griffin, the expectation is that there would be strong interest in the left-hander."
Griffin is having a comeback season for the ages. Again, this is a guy who hadn't pitched in the majors since 2022. That year, he pitched in just six games out of the bullpen for the Kansas City Royals and Toronto Blue Jays. Now, he's a hot commodity and can help a contender in the playoff push.