Foster Griffin
#22 SP · Nationals
Height
6'3"
Weight
225 lbs
Age
30
College
N/A
Draft
2014, Rd 1, #28
Experience
2 yrs
Bats/Throws
R/L
A+
A
D
N/A
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The Verdict on Foster, in One Read
On the field, Foster Griffin grades out as an excellent SP for Nationals (A Performance). That places him 24th of 252 graded starting pitchers. The money matches the play — the Contract Value Index lands at A+, a clear bargain. The public read is negative (D Sentiment), drawn from current news and social signal rather than the box score.
Career StatsA
| Year | Team | GP | ERA | W-L | K | WHIP | IP | SV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career |  | 19 | 4.08 | 7-2 | 70 | 1.1866666 | 0.0 | 0 |
| 2026 | | 13 | 3.63 | 7-2 | 69 | 1.10 | 72.0 | 0 |
| 2022 |
Current Contract
Length
1 year
Total Value
$5.5M
Guaranteed
$3.3M
AAV
$5.5M/yr
Guaranteed %60%
Contract Value Index (CVI)
A+
Great Value
OverpayFair ValueGreat Value
Among SP contracts at this AAV tier, Foster Griffin earns a A+ Contract Value Index (CVI). At $5.5M AAV on a rookie scale deal, Griffin represents exceptional value for a pitcher contributing meaningfully to a major league rotation—particularly one demonstrating both the technical growth and competitive resilience his recent performance showcases. The CVI reflects the fundamental arbitrage at play: a 30-year-old reclamation project on a sub-$6M contract who is currently delivering above-replacement-level innings at a time when starting pitching depth commands significant market premium. His comeback narrative—three years away from professional baseball, then returning to post a seven-strikeout outing with demonstrable arsenal refinements—has genuine substance backing the media praise, even if skepticism about durability and sample size remains earned and appropriate. However, the Nationals' recent rotation activity tells a cautious story: the organization added four new arms in two weeks, a pattern that suggests internal hedging rather than confidence in Griffin as a long-term anchor. The CVI grade remains steady, grounded in the sheer cost efficiency of what he's producing now, but his value is contingent on maintaining this level across a larger sample and proving the technical adjustments are durable rather than a brief hot streak.
Performance Analysis
A
FCA+
Foster Griffin's WAR-tier baseline and counting stats together earn an A performance grade. The 30-year-old right-hander has constructed a compelling case for sustained effectiveness in his return to major league baseball after three years away, and his arsenal adjustments—specifically the refined deployment of all seven of his pitches—are generating measurable results on the mound. His strikeout prowess stands out as his most notable statistical strength, with recent outings like his seven-strikeout performance serving as concrete evidence that his pitch sequencing overhaul has real teeth. The data does not reveal a glaring statistical weakness; rather, the constraint on his impact comes from the simple reality that he remains a second-year player with a limited sample size at the highest level, which is why media sentiment remains cautiously optimistic rather than fully convinced. The Nationals have been aggressive in adding rotation depth over the past two weeks—multiple right-handers cycled through the roster—a signal that while Griffin has earned his spot, organizational uncertainty around long-term rotation stability persists. At 19-22 and sitting in the NL East basement, Washington needs Griffin's A-level performance to continue converting innings; as his sample grows and the Nationals' stretch-run fortunes potentially improve, the gap between his performance grade and his B sentiment grade should narrow.
Contracts in the Same Value Band
Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the A band — a quick read on where Foster's contract sits relative to comparable money.
How Foster Compares at the Position
Foster Griffin ranks 24th of 252 graded starting pitchers by performance. That slots Foster between Wilber Dotel (A) just ahead and Trey Yesavage (A) just behind.
Graded higher
Wilber DotelPiratesAZack WheelerPhilliesAMichael McGreevyCardinalsAFoster GriffinA
Graded lower
Trey YesavageBlue JaysRecent Games
| Date | OPP | Result | AB | H | R | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, 6/16 | vs KC | W 6-4 | - | - | - | 0 | - | - | - |
| Wed, 6/10 | @ SF | L 10-11 | - | - | - | 0 | - | - | - |
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About this player
Foster Griffin is a player in his 2nd MLB season listed at SP for the Nationals. FanVerdicts covers every MLB player, team, GM, and transaction — and puts your verdict on all of it. Sign in to cast your Fan Verdict on Foster Griffin, see where the crowd lands, and argue the call. FanVerdicts also brings its own read — performance, sentiment, and Contract Value Index — as one honest input alongside the crowd's. Where FanVerdicts has weighed in so far: Contract Value Index A+, Performance A, Sentiment D.
The crowd's Fan Verdict moves in real time as fans vote on this profile. FanVerdicts' own read updates as new data lands — performance recalculates when MLB game stats post, sentiment shifts with media coverage and fan discussion, and the Contract Value Index recomputes when contract terms change. Contract details below show the structure (years, total value, average annual value, guarantees) behind the Contract Value Index read.
For league-wide context, the MLB hub has team rankings, GM report cards, the transactions feed, and live scoreboards. The MLB player rankings page sorts every active player by performance and contract value within their position.
