For the second time in three years, the Arizona Diamondbacks finished with a winning record. But once again, it was not enough to book a spot in the postseason.

The National League landscape has proven to be too difficult and crowded for the Diamondbacks to punch their ticket to October since winning the pennant in 2023. There will have to be some roster upgrades that need to happen for them to meaningfully improve.

Specifically, Arizona needs to address its pitching. The obstacle facing the front office, however, is that owner Ken Kendrick wants to reduce payroll.

If the Diamondbacks need to bargain hunt in free agency this winter, who should they target? Left-hander Foster Griffin might be worth considering.

If the Diamondbacks chose to pursue Griffin, they would get a veteran arm who earned his first All-Star selection as a member of the Washington Nationals before he was traded to the Cleveland Guardians at the MLB Trade Deadline.

Griffin, 31, spent most of his career in the minors with the Kansas City Royals before signing with Washington as a free agent in December 2025. After making his MLB debut nearly six years earlier, Griffin found an opportunity with the Nationals and made the most of it.

Over 22 starts with Washington, Griffin went 12-3 with a 3.06 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP in 129.1 innings of work. As good as he was for the Nationals, it did not prevent them from shopping him, and he was traded to Cleveland for several prospects on Aug. 3.

Griffin was not as productive with the Guardians, going 3-3 with a 5.19 ERA over nine starts, but given the fact that he had an All-Star season on a one-year, $5.5 million deal, he is an intriguing target.

If Arizona were to acquire Griffin on a similar deal and he could recapture the type of production that made him an All-Star in the first place, then it would be able to employ a legitimately dangerous left-handed combination.

That combination would consist of Griffin and All-Star Eduardo Rodriguez, alongside former Cy Young-winning right-hander Corbin Burnes. 

It could be a win-win: the Diamondbacks' front office would get an All-Star-caliber arm without worrying about Kendrick opposing the deal as the purse strings tighten.

The Diamondbacks are in a position where the current roster just isn't quite good enough, but a few changes could make a massive difference for their future postseason hopes.