One year ago, starting pitcher Foster Griffin was a complete wild card for MLB teams. He had spent the last three seasons in Japan, working on his secondary pitches after a failed MLB stint in 2020-22.
The Washington Nationals signed him to a one-year, $5.5 million deal in late December. Little did he know that his career was about to change for the better.
What Griffin learned in Japan helped him put together a strong MLB resurgence, as he made the National League All-Star team this year and was so good that a contender, the Cleveland Guardians, invested prospect capital to bring him to town for the stretch run and the playoffs.
Between the Nats and the Guardians, Griffin posted a strong 3.60 ERA in 172.2 innings. He made the postseason with Cleveland and posted a solid 3.48 ERA in 10.1 frames, with 15 strikeouts and no walks. He was even trusted with the start for Game 1 against the Tampa Bay Rays, which his team won.
Griffin was solid, so the Guardians now face a tough decision on the free-agent-to-be lefty. Should they bring him back? At what cost? Cleveland.com’s Joe Noga weighs in.
“Griffin might be the most fascinating name on Cleveland’s free agent list because of how dramatically his value changed during the season. But the Guardians aren’t likely to win a bidding war for a 31-year-old pitcher whose market value has risen substantially. Griffin’s October performance might end up being his parting gift to Cleveland,” Noga wrote.
The answer to the question “should the Guardians bring back Griffin?” will likely come down to the price. He was a steady contributor in the second half and during their October run, but he is a 31-year-old hurler without top-end velocity and likely to generate a lot of interest in the market.
That projected interest will surely drive up his price, and that’s where things can get uncomfortable with the Guardians. Knowing how they operate, they will likely promote someone in-house or focus on a cheaper alternative.
If, however, Griffin market stalls for some reason, Cleveland will be paying close attention. They are always hunting for value, and the southpaw can get impressive numbers that might justify a two-year investment.
If the commitment is longer than that, it’s hard to see the Guardians being heavily involved.
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