The Nationals made it official: left-hander Foster Griffin is heading back to Major League Baseball, and he’s doing it in D.C. After six days of buzz, the Nats locked in the 30-year-old pitcher on a one-year deal, marking the first MLB free-agent signing under new President of Baseball Operations Paul Toboni. It’s a calculated move - and one that could quietly pay off in a big way.
Griffin isn’t just a depth piece. He’s a 6-foot-3 former first-round pick who reinvented himself overseas.
After brief stints with the Royals and Blue Jays - just seven big-league appearances, all in relief - Griffin took his talents to Japan, where he put together three strong seasons with the Yomiuri Giants. His numbers there weren’t just solid, they were eye-opening: a 2.57 ERA across 54 starts, with a strikeout-to-walk ratio that shows real command (9.1 K/9, 2.0 BB/9).
For context, that ERA is better than what Shota Imanaga posted in NPB before making his own jump to MLB.
In 2025, Griffin took it to another level. He went 6-1 with a 1.52 ERA, allowed just one home run in 89 innings, and earned All-Star honors in Japan’s Central League. The guy didn’t just survive in NPB - he dominated.
Now, back in the States, Griffin brings with him more than just improved numbers. He’s returning with a new arsenal, too.
During his time in Japan, Griffin added both a splitter and a sweeper to his repertoire - two pitches that could be difference-makers as he transitions back to MLB hitters. He’s not going to overpower anyone, but he’s a finesse lefty with a deeper toolbox than he had when he left.
That’s the kind of evolution that makes scouts and front offices take notice.
Financially, the Nationals are getting value here. The reported $5.5 million price tag for one year is a low-risk bet on upside. And with Trevor Williams expected to start the season on the 60-day IL, Griffin suddenly becomes the oldest arm on the staff - a veteran presence at just 30 years old.
This move also gives the Nationals some flexibility as they navigate an offseason full of possibilities. Whether or not MacKenzie Gore is traded, Griffin’s addition helps stabilize a rotation that’s still being pieced together.
Right now, the competition for starting spots includes Andrew Alvarez, Cade Cavalli, Josiah Gray, Jake Irvin, Brad Lord, Mitchell Parker, and Griffin himself. If Gore stays, that’s eight names vying for five spots - meaning a couple of those arms could shift to the bullpen or head to Triple-A for depth.
But if Gore is moved? That rotation picture changes quickly.
And given Toboni’s unpredictable approach so far, nothing feels off the table. The Nationals have already shown a willingness to shake things up - and if more pitching comes back in a Gore deal, the dominoes will keep falling.
As for the broader roster, Washington sits at 39 players on the 40-man, with a potential spot opening if Sauryn Lao is released to pursue an opportunity in Asia. Injuries are already a factor, with both Williams and DJ Herz sidelined to start the year. That puts even more weight on the team’s young arms - and on recent additions like Luis Perales, Riley Cornelio, Jake Eder, and Andry Lara, who now represent the club’s minor league depth with 40-man status.
FanGraphs has already baked Griffin into their 2026 projections, slotting him in with a +2.0 WAR over 143 innings. That’s a meaningful impact - enough to bump the Nationals’ win total projection to just over 75, up from the Vegas line of 68-70. Add that to the earlier acquisition of catcher Harry Ford, who’s projected to contribute +0.8 WAR, and it’s clear the Nats are starting to move the needle.
But there’s still work to do. FanGraphs points to two key areas for improvement: pitching depth and first base.
And the Nationals have room to maneuver. The active payroll is just under $60 million, and even with Stephen Strasburg’s contract factored in, the CBT payroll sits at $115 million - well below last year’s $140 million Opening Day figure.
That leaves about $25 million in breathing room.
Toboni could use that space to go after another starter, bolster the bullpen, or finally shore up first base. If he checks one or two of those boxes, this Nationals team might not just be more competitive - it might start to feel like a real threat in the NL East. Especially if the bullpen can avoid the kind of meltdowns that plagued the club in 2025.
Bottom line: the Griffin signing isn’t flashy, but it’s smart. It’s the kind of move that builds a foundation - and if the Nationals keep stacking smart decisions like this, they might just surprise some people in 2026.