The Washington Nationals are still in the mix, and that has put their deadline plans in a tricky spot.
At 52-52 and three games back of the final NL wild card entering Saturday, the next week carries extra weight for a club that is already talking like both a buyer and a seller. The current idea is to add established big league help for a postseason push, but that approach could shift depending on what happens before Aug. 3.
For now, though, one name looks especially likely to move: Foster Griffin.
According to Joel Sherman of The New York Post, extension talks between Griffin and the Nationals “fizzled quickly.” That lines up with a previous report that Washington had considered keeping the star left-hander through the season while trying to work out a long-term deal. Instead, Griffin appears headed toward free agency after the year.
He has given the Nationals plenty to think about. Through 20 starts, Griffin owns a 2.68 ERA and a 158 ERA+.
That kind of production makes him a prime trade chip, and Sherman’s report only strengthened that view by noting Griffin “is available” in trade talks. Around the league, that has long been the expectation. Executives had already viewed him as a likely deadline piece because of how well he has pitched into the summer.
So unless something changes fast, this looks like a one-year run in Washington for Griffin. If that’s the path, the Nationals should be able to bring back a strong prospect package from a contender looking to shore up its rotation.
There is still a chance the sides could reach an extension, but with Aug. 3 looming, that possibility looks slim. In the meantime, president of baseball operations Paul Toboni appears positioned to use Griffin to help the rebuild while also bringing in outside help for the playoff chase.
In Other News...
Nationals Suddenly Face A Trade Deadline Twist Few Fans Expected
The trade deadline picture in Washington has shifted in a way few expected a few weeks ago. Sitting at 52-52 and still hanging around the wild-card race, the Nationals are no longer approaching the market as a club focused only on subtraction, and they are now evaluating ways to bring in at least one big-league player who can help right away.
The needs are obvious enough: the bullpen has been a problem, and the rotation still leaves plenty of questions if the season stretches into October. Even while the front office continues to listen on some current major leaguers, the bigger question now is whether the Nationals can thread the needle between staying competitive and making the kind of deadline move that actually changes their outlook. [Read more 🡒]
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Nationals Fans Just Got A Better Way To Track Game Day Weather
Fans keeping an eye on the Nationals this season will have a more focused weather guide built into the teams game-day coverage. Washingtons reporting around Nationals Park is teaming with Capital Weather to deliver forecasts aimed specifically at the ballpark, giving readers a clearer sense of what conditions could mean for a given night at the yard.
The new setup centers on NatCast, a forecast product designed for days when weather could affect the game, and it will be folded into The Nats Reports previews and live updates. The idea is to keep fans informed as conditions change, whether the concern is a delay before first pitch, storms moving nearby, or weather shifting once the game is underway. [Read more 🡒]