Bleacher Report points to free agent acquisition Foster Griffin as a starter in the Washington Nationals rotation in 2026
While much of the fan discussion has remained centered around what moves the Washington Nationals will make to upgrade its 2026 pitching, both the starting rotation and bullpen, the Nationals unsurprisingly approach spring training with a clear-cut number one to anchor the room with the 2026 rotation projected.
Bleacher Report pointed to left-handed pitcher MacKenzie Gore being the Nationals' top pitcher and likely Opening Day starter, though the biggest question mark is whether he ultimately returns to the Nationals in year one of the Blake Butera. The New York Yankees became the latest school to unofficially join the Gore sweepstakes after Jack Curry of YES Network reported the two organizations have had discussions through the offseason.
"I think any pitcher out there, any starting pitcher that could possibly be acquired, I think the Yankees are having those conversations," Curry said on Monday.
"There is still a chance MacKenzie Gore is traded before the start of spring training, but there is no rush to move him with two years of club control remaining, and a deadline deal could be more likely at this point," Bleacher Report added.
Josiah Gray, who avoided arbitration with the organization this offseason, was also projected in the Nationals' starting rotation. Gray spent the 2025 season rehabbing from flexor strain in his throwing elbow before undergoing Tommy John surgery in July 2024, returning to rehab in September. Brad Lord, who made his debut in 2025 after signing in 2023, was also included alongside Cade Cavalli included despite largely remaining an unknown with just 11 career games in the major league after battling through injuries during his career.
The final piece in the projection rotation was left-handed pitcher Foster Griffin, who signed a one-year deal with the Nationals after a three year stint in Japan. Griffin became the first official signing of the Paul Toboni era after signing a one-year, $5.5 million contract with an additional $1 million in incentives.
"Left-hander Foster Griffin was signed to a one-year, $5.5 million deal as he gets set to return from a successful three-year run in the Japanese League where he posted a 2.57 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 318 strikeouts in 315.2 innings," Bleacher Report included.
Griffin joined the organization after reportedly fielding interest from several teams, giving the Nationals a low risk boost to its starting five.
With the Yomiuri Giants in Japan, Griffin re-signed after his first season where he went on to post a 2.57 ERA with 78 walks and 318 strikeouts in 315.2 innings, posting striking out batters at a 25.1% rate against just 18 home runs.
A pair of right handed pitchers in Jake Irvin and Mitchell Parker joined left handed pitcher Andrew Alvarez as other candidates to join the starting rotation, but of course, the biggest question remains whether Gore still anchors the rotation by Opening Day after a quiet offseason for a young and new front office.
Whether the Nationals new pitching coach Simon Matthews, one of several coaches announced last month, is able to drive tangible results in 2026 will be one of the biggest storylines after pitching proved to be a sore spot in 2025. Washington ranked 29th in ERA (5.35) while allowing the second most hits (1,491), the fifth-most home runs allowed (214) and throwing the third-fewest strikeouts (1,248).