Foster

Griffin

The 30-year-old hurler struck out five batters on the night while issuing a pair of walks. The Marlins pushed a run across against him in the opening inning on an RBI single by Owen Caissie. They added on two more in the third on run-scoring knocks from Agustin Ramirez and Christopher Morel. Griffin got 12 swings and misses on 78 pitches on the night, posting a strong CSW of 35 percent. He wraps up the spring with a 4.50 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and a 9/2 K/BB ratio over eight innings in his two Grapefruit League starts. He’s expected to open the season at the backend of the Nationals’ though he’s unlikely to gain relevancy from a fantasy perspective.

Parker has been a fixture in the Nationals’ rotation over the last two seasons, making 29 starts in 2024 and 30 starts (33 appearances) in 2025. However, he posted just a 5.68 ERA and 103/.58 K/BB ratio in 164 2/3 innings last season, and has not won a spot in the rotation this year. With Parker beginning the year in Triple-A, Foster Griffin and Jake Irvin will likely claim the final two spots in the Nationals’ rotation.

Griffin, who spent the last three years in Japan, seemed like a pretty good bet to have a spot in the Nationals’ rotation after signing for $5.5 million in December, but now that the team has added Zack Littell and Miles Mikolas, he might find himself out of the mix initially. If so, the bullpen could still be a possibility, though he does have two option years left. It’s going to be difficult for any Nationals pitcher to generate much fantasy value this year with the team likely to struggle defensively (especially behind the plate), offensively and in terms of bullpen performance.

Griffin threw 15 of 29 pitches for strikes and worked around three baserunners to spin a pair of shutout frames. The 30-year-old lefty is penciled into a spot in Washington’s rotation after spending the last three seasons pitching overseas in Japan. He offers minimal appeal for fantasy purposes based on his career track record and will go undrafted in most leagues this spring.

The move was announced last week and is now official. Griffin had a 1.62 ERA and a 77/18 K/BB in 78 innings as a starter in Japan for the Yomiuri Giants last season, thanks in large part to revamping his secondary pitches. Over his three seasons in Japan, he went 18–10 with a 2.57 ERA in 54 starts. That success and his contract should give him a chance to win a spot in the Nationals’ rotation to open the season.

He can make an extra $1 million in incentives. Griffin, 30, had a 1.62 ERA and a 77/18 K/BB in 78 innings as a starter for the Yomiuri Giants last season. A first-round pick of the Royals in 2014, he briefly pitched in the majors for Kansas City and Toronto before going to Japan in 2023. His velocity is well below average, but both his slider and cutter performed very well in the NPB. The Nationals will likely give him every opportunity to win a rotation spot.

Griffin, a 30-year-old lefty drafted 28th overall by the Royals in 2012, debuted in the majors in 2020, but he threw a total of eight innings, giving up seven runs, before leaving for Japan in 2023. Pitching for the Yomiuri Giants, Griffin went 19-12 with a 2.51 ERA and a 351/78 K/BB in 348 innings over three seasons. He had a 1.62 ERA in 13 appearances despite missing time this year, though it does need to be noted that the Central League ERA was just 2.93 overall.

The Jays made a host of roster moves on Tuesday in order to get their 40-man roster situated and among them was granting Griffin his outright release. The 27-year-old southpaw struggled in his time at the big league level in 2022 -- posting an 8.53 ERA and 1.90 WHIP over 6 1/3 innings in six appearances between the Blue Jays and Royals. He’s now free to latch on elsewhere.

Griffin made one scoreless appearance for the Jays after being recalled earlier this week. He’s clearing a roster spot for Friday’s starter, Mitch White.

Griffin will join the Blue Jays’ bullpen on Wednesday, a few months after being acquired from the Royals. The 27-year-old former first-round pick has allowed six earned runs in six career innings at the MLB level.