The Cleveland Guardians have acquired All-Star left-handed pitcher Foster Griffin from the Washington Nationals in a significant move to upgrade their rotation. The Guardians sent minor league pitchers Will Dion, Josh Hartle, Kendeglys Virguez, and outfielder prospect Nick Mitchell to the Nationals in exchange for Griffin.
Griffin, 31, has emerged as one of baseball's top pitchers this season, boasting a 3.28 earned run average and a 1.07 walks plus hits per inning pitched through 129⅓ innings. He holds a 3.5 wins above replacement and is tied for fourth in Major League Baseball with 12 wins. His pitching style relies heavily on a cutter and a seven-pitch repertoire, rather than sheer velocity. Griffin will become a free agent after the current season when his one-year, $5.5 million contract expires.
The acquisition of Griffin is one of three major moves made by the Guardians, who currently sit at 57-56, as they aim to catch the American League Central-leading Chicago White Sox. Cleveland has also added outfielder Jo Adell from the Los Angeles Angels and first baseman Nathaniel Lowe from the Cincinnati Reds prior to the trade deadline.
Griffin's journey to becoming a first-time MLB All-Star in 2026 has been unconventional. Originally selected 28th overall by the Kansas City Royals in the 2014 draft, Griffin struggled during his initial stints in the majors. He was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in mid-2022 but did not find his rhythm there either, leading him to pursue opportunities in Japan.
In Japan, Griffin quickly established himself as a prominent starter for the Yomiuri Giants, becoming one of their most dominant pitchers. During the 2025 season, he allowed only one home run over the entire season. This past offseason, he returned to MLB, signing with the Nationals, a team in significant need of pitching talent, and has since exceeded expectations.