The Washington Nationals are fighting to keep their season alive. After dropping a tough series at home at the hands of the Toronto Blue Jays earlier in the week, they ended up losing the series opener on ESPN to the Atlanta Braves on Thursday. It was a tough blow to a Nationals team that is essentially trying to prove to the front office that they should not be in sell mode heading into next week's deadline, but they can still make up for it over the weekend.
Perhaps even better for the Nationals is that they will be sending their best guy to the mound to stop the skid in coveted trade asset and 2026 All-Star Foster Griffin. For as much as his name has been tossed around in trade talks in the last couple of weeks, the NL Rookie of the Year candidate has continued to be a huge part of this team's overall success. But as of now, what does the outlook seem like on his long-term future with the club?
Foster Griffin reportedly in extension talks with Nationals
Heading into the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline of early next week, a ton has been written about the future of several players around the league. Huge names like Tarik Skubal and Adley Rutschman have been thrown around a lot, but the Nationals could have some of the best trade chips on a rental basis available heading into the weekend.
The main one that a ton of teams are interested in is Griffin, but as of now, it appears as if the Nationals are reportedly discussing a contract extension with him before the trade deadline. If the team is unable to come to terms with Griffin, it would appear likely that the Nationals will deal him for a solid return, but as of now, the new front office seemingly wants Griffin in the fold, according to Buster Olney from ESPN.
The Nationals are exploring a possible extension with NL All-Star Foster Griffin, who is eligible for free agency in the fall. The circumstance mirrors that of Seth Lugo last year, when the Royals extended Lugo instead of trading him before he hit free agency. Griffin, 31, is…
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 30, 2026
Mark Feinsand later reported that a Griffin extension with the Nationals is "very unlikely," however, there is zero doubt that the Nationals want to at least have the peace of mind of either extending or not finding a number that works for everyone involved before deciding Griffin's fate with the team.
The bottom line is, the extension talks with Griffin and his camp are likely happening as I type this out right now, and we will have a better idea of his future with the club within just a few days. Griffin might very well be pitching in his final game in a Nationals uniform tonight in Atlanta, and as he has done all season long, the Nationals really need him to come through in a big way.
Do you want to see Foster Griffin extended or traded by the Nationals? As always, please let me know on X, @DCBerk.
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