Guardians acquire All-Star pitcher Foster Griffin from Nationals

The Cleveland Guardians acquired left-hander Foster Griffin from the Washington Nationals in a trade before the Monday deadline, adding a first-time All-Star to their postseason rotation as they chase the AL Central lead.

Griffin, 31, has compiled a 12-3 record with a 3.06 ERA, a 1.07 WHIP and 116 strikeouts across 22 starts for the Nationals, according to ESPN. He is eligible to become a free agent after this season. His average fastball sits at 91.4 mph, and he carries a .226 batting average against, per ESPN.

The pitcher's repertoire centers on a cutter-heavy seven-pitch mix that includes a changeup and a splitter, according to ESPN reporting. His approach shifts based on handedness: he works laterally against lefties using a sinister-cutter-sweeper combination and more vertically against righties with a four-seam fastball, cutter, curveball and changeup.

Griffin has demonstrated recent velocity and control: he recorded eight straight starts allowing one run or less in each outing, per ESPN. His home run management has been mixed this year; he has surrendered 19 home runs in 129 and two-thirds innings, though he ranks among MLB leaders with 12 wins. In 2025, he allowed just one home run in 78 innings while pitching for the Yomiuri Giants in Japan, a three-season stint ESPN described as excellent.

The Guardians entered Monday's game in second place in the AL Central standings, three games behind the Chicago White Sox. This acquisition marks the team's second major deadline move Monday, following the earlier acquisition of outfielder Jo Adell from the Los Angeles Angels, per ESPN. The specific prospects or assets Cleveland sent to Washington in exchange for Griffin were not disclosed in the available reporting.