Foster "Peter" Griffin

[JCA-CrystalCity]

https://www.mlb.com/news/foster-griffin-opens-up-in-q-a

I'm going to guess Griffin will find this the biggest change from Japan:

MLB.com: What was the coolest thing that you experienced when you were playing overseas?

Griffin: That’s a loaded question. I just don't think people understand the environment over there is pretty crazy, the baseball environment. I don’t think I’ve ever been to a game that wasn’t sold out. We averaged something crazy, like 35,000 to 38,000 fans a game. Even when you’d go play on the road, those games are crazy, too. So just overall, I would say the way they look at baseball is pretty crazy compared to here.

[nobleisthyname]

https://www.mlb.com/news/foster-griffin-opens-up-in-q-a

I'm going to guess Griffin will find this the biggest change from Japan:

Will he be able to handle the lower pressure environment?

[Natsinpwc]

Will he be able to handle the lower pressure environment?

Why is everyone looking at their phone instead of me?

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Foster Griffin preview. Courtesy of Sam Sallick at Federal Baseball:

When he was healthy, Griffin used his deep pitch mix and command to dominate NPB hitters.

The biggest question mark for Griffin is whether his softer arsenal will translate to the MLB. His fastball averaged just over 90 MPH last season, which is why he could only get a relatively modest one-year deal despite elite production. As a lefty, it is easier to survive with less velocity, but it is a question mark.

Griffin made up for his lack of power with an extremely deep mix of pitches. He threw seven different pitch types last season. Griffin was able to have a different pitch mix against righties and lefties. Against righties, he leaned more on his cutter and changeup to go with the fastball. He also mixed in his sweeper, as well as a splitter and occasional curve. Griffin’s sweeper was his go to secondary against lefties. He also used a sinker to get ground balls. In Japan, Griffin learned to mix up his pitches beautifully.

...  I actually think he will rely even more on his secondary pitches in the MLB. Nats pitchers are moving away from fastballs in general, and Griffin’s deep bag of pitches gives him plenty of non-fastball options. Griffin threw his 4-seamer about 40% of the time in Japan, and I expect that to go down even more in the big leagues.

https://www.federalbaseball.com/washington-nationals-analysis/89216/what-expect-foster-griffin-in-first-start-with-washington-nationals

[imref]

Our Ace!

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Our Ace!

just don't tell FIP or xFIP

[tomterp]

Our Ace!

I like watching him pitch, all those different ball movements.  In the interview after he exited he admitted he was overthrowing his 4-seam against the Dodgers, which didn't work.  Realized that if he just relaxes and throws it with command the speed is differentiated from his other pitches enough to be effective.  Clearly a smart, thinking pitcher.

[nobleisthyname]

Pretty interesting watching him call his own game too with the PitchCom.

[welch]

Isn't he "Fister" Griffin?

[IdahoNat]

Extend him now. Enough of this flipping guys at the deadline for low-tier lottery tickets.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Extend him now. Enough of this flipping guys at the deadline for low-tier lottery tickets.

I wonder if he would take 2 years, $15 million right now.

[Slateman]

Should get us a decent prospect at the deadline

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Is there any control of him after this year? He has < 6 years mlb service, but guys coming from Japan can put in clauses where they can't be given arb when their deals are done.

[nobleisthyname]

Is there any control of him after this year? He has < 6 years mlb service, but guys coming from Japan can put in clauses where they can't be given arb when their deals are done.

There's also the rule where if you're 25+ and have 6+ years of experience in a foreign league you come over as a full free agent. That's why for example Ohtani and Sasaki came over with full team control while guys like Yammamoto signed a free agent contract right away.

Of course that doesn't apply to Griffin as he only pitched for 3 years in NPB.

[Slateman]

Is there any control of him after this year? He has < 6 years mlb service, but guys coming from Japan can put in clauses where they can't be given arb when their deals are done.

Nope. 1 year, 5.5 million. He was a free agent so he gets to be one in six months.

[SkinsNatFan21RIP]

If he keeps this up you have to deal him at the deadline.

[Slateman]

If he keeps this up you have to deal him at the deadline.

Agree

[IdahoNat]

Who is to say we'll even be sellers at the deadline?

[tomterp]

Who is to say we'll even be sellers at the deadline?

Everyone who projected our record for 2026.  I had top projection with 75 wins until PB went on a bender and typo'd an 80.

None of those projections would have us standing pat at the deadline.

[IanRubbish]

Who is to say we'll even be sellers at the deadline?

Ownership. 

[imref]

If King and Wallace continue to rake as we get closer to the ASB then you absolutely have to trade CJ, and maybe even Garcia Jr.

[Slateman]

If King and Wallace continue to rake as we get closer to the ASB then you absolutely have to trade CJ, and maybe even Garcia Jr.

Not sure how you get anything for a sub .700 OPS first baseman.

I want to see King and Wallace in Triple A for a month before making any declarations.

[Smithian]

If he keeps this up you have to deal him at the deadline.

With a significant labor disruption likely next year, I agree. Otherwise I'd consider him someone they should want to keep around for 2027 to see how fast our progress is going.

[IdahoNat]

I'd rather trade one of our IF prospects for some pitching help.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

With no control over Griffin after this year, it's really down to extend him now for more money than he's ever seen, deal him at the deadline if we are out of WC, or push at the deadline if we are in contention for the WC.

I will guess Toboni will argue against the latter if it could adversely impact the long term build out. He's from the Red Sox system, and they've pursued half-hearted deadline moves since 2019. I'm sure he doesn't want to be on the wrong end of the equivalent of Mike Soroka for Christian Franklin and Ronny Cruz.

I could see making Griffin an offer for his age 31-33 seasons as birn g attractive to him after kicking around for a dozen years. He runs the Fedde risk if he doesn't. There were only 5 contracts this past winter given out that were longer than 3 years (Cease, Suarez, Valdez, King, and Ponce). See if you can guarantee him something in the $15-18 million range for the next couple of seasons with an option for a third. Of course, this also depends on ownership being willing to to commit Trevor Williams+ type money again.

Realistically,  he's  being dealt at the deadline if he shows anything over the next 3 months.