Foster Griffin’s time with the Cleveland Guardians may have been short, but his market this winter could be much bigger than anyone expected a year ago. The left-hander arrived at the trade deadline in August and went on to become one of the most important arms in Cleveland’s run to the American League Championship Series. Now he is a free agent coming off an All-Star season, and teams around the league are taking notice. That could make it very difficult for the Guardians to bring him back. The Athletic’s Jim Bowden ranked Griffin No. 14 on his list of the top 40 free agents this offseason, and he expects Griffin to have plenty of options.
He named the Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox as the best fits, and predicted a three-year contract worth $67 million.
“He wasn’t as successful with Cleveland, posting a 5.19 ERA, but his FIP was 3.54 and he pitched well for the Guardians in the postseason. Griffin was technically a rookie this season, though he made his major-league debut in 2020 and pitched three full seasons in Japan as a starter. He is a durable left-handed starter who has solid command and a deep pitch mix. He should get plenty of multiyear offers this time in free agency,” Bowden wrote.
That projection shows how much Griffin’s value has climbed. Last winter, he signed a one-year, $5.5 million deal with the Nationals after spending three seasons pitching as a starter in Japan. He went 12-3 with a 3.06 ERA over 22 starts in Washington, earned a spot on the National League All-Star team and was dealt to Cleveland for four prospects when the Nationals could not extend him.
His postseason only added to his appeal. In Game 3 of the division series, with Cleveland facing elimination against the White Sox, Griffin struck out seven batters in relief to set a franchise postseason record for a reliever. He started Game 1 of the ALCS against the Rays and came back to throw 3 2/3 innings of one-run ball in Game 4. Across the postseason, he struck out fifteen batters in 10 1/3 innings.
The Guardians would like to keep him. Chris Antonetti said last week that Griffin made a massive impact on and off the field and that the team will stay engaged with him as it plans its offseason. Griffin would also fill a clear need. Cleveland is a little short in the rotation, and Griffin was one of only three Guardians pitchers to start a game this postseason.
The price may be the problem. A deal anywhere near $67 million over three years would be a major commitment for a team that reached the ALCS with a payroll of roughly $75 million and faces big arbitration decisions on Steven Kwan and Jo Adell.
It also does not help that one of Bowden’s best fits is a division rival. The White Sox just pushed Cleveland to five games in the division series, and adding Griffin would give Chicago another proven arm in the AL Central. The Guardians may want Griffin back, but if Bowden is right about his market, they could soon be facing him instead.
NEXT: How High Is Chase DeLauter's Ceiling?
