While the Washington Nationals will have their first off day since the second half began today, there are still business decisions to be made with regard to the team's future. As of now, the Nationals are just 1.5 games back of the final Wild Card spot, with the St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Miami Marlins ahead of them currently on the outside looking in.
Due to the Nationals' position in the standings, nobody really has any idea how the cookie will crumble when it comes to the Nationals' trade deadline plans. The team could easily buy or sell at this point, or could even pursue a bit of both. With guys like Luis Garcia Jr. generating a lot of interest on the open market, the Nationals will not have a shortage of potential trade chips. Whether or not they choose to cash their chips in is a different story, according to the latest rumors.
Nationals unsure about All-Star Foster Griffin's future with the team
According to the latest intel from Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic, the Nationals are "still assessing" whether or not they will end up trading All-Star lefty Foster Griffin or keep him for the rest of this season. Also discussed as an option was a contract extension, although nobody really seems to have a firm grasp on the plans of the front office.
While nobody expected the Nationals to be as good as they have been this season, perhaps an even bigger surprise has been the emergence and breakout of Griffin. The 30-year-old lefty became an All-Star for the first time in his career this season, and is also forcing his way into National League Rookie of the Year conversations.
An extension would give him the opportunity to secure his first real payday as a professional, although it remains to be seen if he will regress closer to his expected stats, which would still have him slotted as a very solid mid-rotation pitcher rather than the near-ace he has been in 2026. Nonetheless, the Nationals have a very difficult decision to make within the next week and a half or so, and Griffin could end up as the top arm on the market depending on Tarik Skubal's availability.
With the Nationals likely needing several arms to complement their elite offense, trading away Griffin could prove to be a huge obstacle to the team's playoff hopes this season. However, a trade of Griffin and Garcia Jr. both could give the Nationals one last farm system influx of prospect talent before the team goes for it next year and beyond.
What do you think the Nationals will end up doing with Foster Griffin? As always, please let me know on X, @DCBerk.
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