Pirates Named Trade Destination for Nationals LHP
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PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates will look for pitching help at the trade deadline and one veteran could seriously help them out.
Nationals left-handed pitcher Foster Griffin is a player that could end up on the trade block and both Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan of ESPN named the Pirates as a landing spot for the southpaw.
Griffin is in his first year back in the major leagues after three years playing for the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Baseball League (NBL) in Japan and is one of the more underrated pitchers in baseball.
He pitched in the Nationals rotation this year, but the Pirates, who need bullpen help more than another starter, could find a role for him on their staff.
Why Griffin Makes Sense for the Pirates
The Pirates currently only have two left-handed pitchers on their staff, both relievers, in Mason Montgomery and Gregory Soto.
Evan Sisk just went on the 15-day injured list with left elbow inflammation and rookie Hunter Barco, who was with Triple-A Indianapolis, is on the 7-day injured list himself.
Griffin would add southpaw depth to the Pirates, who are almost entirely right-handed, and give them better options either out of the bullpen, or even as a starter.
The Pirates rotation currently has five right-handers in Paul Skenes, Jared Jones, Mitch Keller, Braxton Ashcraft and Bubba Chandler, which isn't too uncommon, but it can make them susceptible to heavy left-handed batting lineups.
Griffin has excelled with the Nationals this season, posting a 9-2 record across 18 starts, a 2.87 ERA over 103.1 innings pitched, 100 strikeouts to 26 walks, a .210 batting average allowed (BAA) and a 1.04 WHIP.
He ranks amongst the best pitchers in baseball this season, with the 11th-lowest BAA, 12th-lowest WHIP, 14th-lowest ERA, tied 15th-best K/BB (3.85), tied 18th-most innings pitched and 18th-lowest BB/9 (2.26).
Griffin has given up just five earned runs over his last six starts since the beginning of June, which includes just one run against the Pirates at Nationals Park on July 3 in a 9-5 win at home.
The Pirates actually scored the second-most runs against Griffin in a start this season, four runs over 5.1 innings in an 8-7 loss in extra innings at PNC Park on April 16.
Griffin is also on contract for the rest of the season and won't come as much of a high price as a pitcher with years of team control.
The Pirates need better consistency from their rotation and Griffin could bring that for them in 2026.
Griffin could also work if the Pirates use a spot starter, where a reliever comes in early and then he would take on a bulk relief role against a more heavy left-handed lineup, posting a .153 BAA and a 0.74 WHIP against them in 2026.
The Pirates wouldn't mind seeing Griffin throw his seven-pitch arsenal and his impressive cutter, which he has the best run value, +9 per Statcast, of any cutter in baseball this season.
Would the Pirates Actually Trade for Griffin?
The Pirates seem pretty set with their rotation, flaws and all, with one of the best pitchers in baseball in Skenes, an All-Star snub in Ashcraft, a veteran in Keller, a promising rookie in Chandler and a pitcher working back from a serious injury in Jones
Pittsburgh would much rather put their attention towards addressing the bullpen and adding a closer or another high-leverage option, such as a reunion with Aroldis Chapman.
The Nationals are also still in the race for the National League Wild Card at 47-45 and if they stay in it the rest of the month, it's unlikely they would trade away their best starting pitcher.
Other teams that McDaniel and Passan listed are more desperate for rotation help as well, such as the Chicago Cubs and the San Diego Padres, and would be willing to part for better players than the Pirates likely would.
Griffin is an interesting name for the Pirates, but their efforts will most likely go towards the closer role and hope that their bullpen finds more consistency the rest of the season.
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Dominic writes for Pittsburgh Pirates On SI, Pittsburgh Panthers Pn SI and also, Pittsburgh Steelers On SI. A Pittsburgh native, Dominic grew up watching Pittsburgh Sports and wrote for The Pitt News as an undergraduate at the University of Pittsburgh, covering Pitt Athletics. He would write for Pittsburgh Sports Now after college and has years of experience covering sports across Pittsburgh.