Washington Nationals' starting pitcher Foster Griffin is having a breakout year following his return from baseball overseas.
He signed a one-year, $5.5 million deal out of Nippon Professional Baseball prior to the 2026 season.
Griffin, a 31-year-old rookie, has pitched to a 2.76 ERA with 113 strikeouts and a 1.03 WHIP in 124 innings across 21 starts.
Griffin emerged as the National's ace quickly and has continued to improve throughout the season.
While it first seemed like the team would trade Griffin to a true contender at Monday's Trade Deadline, reports from Buster Olney of ESPN on Thursday show otherwise.
The Nationals are currently exploring an extension with the 2026 All-Star.
According to Olney, the deal is set to mirror the one the Royals gave to Seth Lugo last year, a two-year deal worth $46 million.
The Nationals are attempting to claw their way into a playoff spot with their one-of-a-kind offense.
But their pitching staff has heavily struggled, so if they really intend of fighting to play in October, they need to keep their ace around for the push.
