PHILADELPHIA — The Washington Nationals traded left-handed starter Foster Griffin to the Cleveland Guardians for a package of four players ahead of Monday’s trade deadline, parting with another success story for the new front office.
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Cleveland sent left-handers Josh Hartle and Will Dion, right-hander Kendeglys Virguez and outfielder Nick Mitchell to Washington in the deal.
Griffin, signed in December to a one-year, $5.5 million contract, has been the Nationals’ best and most reliable pitcher this season. He has pitched to a 3.06 ERA and made his first all-star team last month.
Griffin was a first-round pick by the Kansas City Royals in 2014 and made his debut for the team in 2020. He had Tommy John surgery shortly after and didn’t make another major league appearance until 2022, when he played in six games for the Royals and Toronto Blue Jays. Hoping to rejuvenate his career, Griffin decided after the season to take his talents to Japan.
After signing with the Yomiuri Giants of the Nippon Professional Baseball league, Griffin did just that. He expanded his repertoire to seven pitches and was named an all-star last year, when he pitched to a 1.52 ERA in 17 games.
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With a second child on the way, Griffin and his family decided to return to the United States. His signing was the first by new president of baseball operations Paul Toboni, and it ended up being the most successful. Griffin has averaged just under six innings a start, and he ranks in the top 10 in the National League in multiple categories, including ERA, WHIP (1.07) and innings pitched (129⅓).
After Friday’s start in Atlanta, which ended up being his last in a Washington uniform, Griffin said he was thankful that the team took a chance on him coming out of Japan. Being a part of this clubhouse, he said, meant a lot to him.
“It’s not even about pitching,” Griffin said when he reflected on what it’s meant to be on the Nationals. “It’s kind of just about the camaraderie in this clubhouse we’ve created — the culture in here is great.”
The Nationals traded infielder Curtis Mead to the Boston Red Sox for left-handed starter Connelly Early on July 25 and dealt Luis García Jr. to the New York Yankees for four right-handed pitchers Sunday. That haul included Jake Bird and Yovanny Cruz, who were in the Nationals clubhouse Monday afternoon but not active yet.
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