The Blue Jays are still looking at the left side of the market, and one name that keeps making sense is Robbie Ray.
So far in 2026, the walks have remained a problem at 4.07 BB/9, and his strikeout rate has dipped too. But there’s been a real shift this summer.
Over his last four appearances, including one relief outing after a weather-related suspension, Ray has given up three earned runs for a 0.95 ERA across 28.1 innings. The command hasn’t been spotless - he’s walked 10 in that stretch - but he’s also struck out 20 while allowing just 13 hits.
For a pending free agent, the timing looks right.
The stuff still gives him a chance to help. His fastball is down 1.5 mph from where it sat in 2021, but he’s added a sinker this season, and hitters have managed only a .220 average against it.
His changeup and curveball remain useful weapons, and the curve has been especially sharp, drawing whiffs 44.1% of the time. That matters because it was one of the worst pitches in baseball last season, finishing with a run value of -9.
If Toronto doesn’t want to go all-in on Tarik Skubal, Ray stands out as a workable fallback. The Giants’ plans aren’t exactly clear, either, which could keep the return from getting too expensive.
Foster Griffin is another left-hander who fits the profile, and his case is built on consistency. He owns a 2.87 ERA, 4.27 FIP and 1.04 WHIP, and Toronto already found success last season with a lefty who had spent time pitching in Asia.
Griffin also has a familiar connection to the organization. He made one relief appearance for the Blue Jays in 2022, then went to Japan from 2023 to 2025 and put together three strong seasons with the Yomiuri Giants. In his final year there, he posted a 1.62 ERA in 14 appearances.
That run earned him a one-year deal with the Washington Nationals, and he’s held his own there too. Over 17 starts, the almost 31-year-old has struck out nearly a batter per inning at 8.71 K/9. He won’t overpower hitters with a 91.4 mph fastball, but he works with a seven-pitch mix and has used it to stay effective all season.
In Other News...
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The Nationals have spent most of the summer trying to prove their record is no fluke, and at 47-45 they are still squarely in the postseason picture. That makes Foster Griffin one of the more interesting names on their roster right now, because the left-hander has quietly turned in a strong season with a 2.87 ERA and 100 strikeouts in 18 starts, enough production to draw attention beyond Washington.
MLB insider Robert Murray reports the interest in Griffin is expected to be plenty, which puts the Nationals in a familiar but tricky spot for a team trying to move forward without giving up too much ground. For a club that has already spent months climbing into contention, the question around Griffin is not just about what he has done so far, but what Washington is willing to risk if the market keeps building before the deadline. [Read more 🡒]
CJ Abrams Deadline Tension Just Got Real For Nationals Fans
CJ Abrams has spent the summer carrying the pressure that comes with being a two-time All-Star and the Nationals starting shortstop, and lately that burden has only grown heavier. His recent struggles at the plate have put him back in the trade-rumor conversation ahead of the deadline, even as Washington keeps pushing in the postseason race and needs its young core to stay steady.
Abrams has been trying to keep the outside noise from taking over, using meditation to stay centered while the speculation around him keeps building. He gave the Nationals a jolt with a key three-run homer against the Astros, a reminder of how quickly his bat can change a game, but the larger question hanging over him and the club is whether Washingtons surprising run changes the way the front office views his future. [Read more 🡒]