Nationals’ 2.87 ERA ace expected to draw ‘plenty’ of trade interest originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Washington Nationals are hanging around the postseason, as their 47-45 record has them just 2.5 games back in the NL Wild Card, and just 6.5 games back in the NL East.
With their elite offense, the Nationals could easily convince themselves to be buyers at the trade deadline, seeking bullpen help to fix one of baseball history’s worst bullpens. But that doesn’t mean there won’t be interest in their own players.
According to MLB insider Robert Murray of Fansided.com, the Nationals are expected to get “plenty” of trade interest in 2.87 ERA ace Foster Griffin this summer.
Nationals expected to receive ‘plenty’ of trade interest in Foster Griffin
“Griffin has been a really, really good find on a one-year, $5.5 million contract for the Washington Nationals,” Murray writes. “The 30-year-old has a 2.87 ERA and 100 strikeouts in 18 starts this season and will draw plenty of trade interest at the deadline.”
This strong interest will force an interesting question: Should the Nationals trade their $5.5 million rental or keep him for a postseason push?
Trading Griffin this summer could bring back a strong prospect haul, as Griffin might be one of the best rental starters a team could acquire at the 2026 trade deadline.
His $5.5 million contract is very cheap, and his 2.87 ERA and 148 ERA+ are something teams are sure to be excited about.
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Of course, his 4.27 FIP is a little worrying, but Griffin is still one of the best potential trade chips this summer.
However, he might not be made available, as the Nationals could be within striking distance of not just the NL Wild Card, but the NL East title as well.
Griffin, who was overseas for a while between 2022 and 2026, has been a great story this year. But if the Nationals want to get the most out of the 30-year-old left-hander, they could trade him by the August 3 trade deadline.
This is going to be a very interesting question for the Nationals, especially since Griffin should be able to bring back a strong return if they decide to trade him, much more than they could get if he leaves in free agency for a large contract.
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