Guardians finalize incredible trade deadline with no-brainer deal with Nationals

Coming into the end of the trade deadline, the Cleveland Guardians had already made the marginal upgrades that were expected of them at the trade deadline.

But it turns out Chris Antonetti had one more trick up his sleeve, as the Guardians linked up with the Nationals in a trade for All-Star pitcher Foster Griffin.

Griffin's been one of the best stories in baseball, as he flamed out in his first MLB stint with the Royals and Blue Jays before spending three seasons reinventing himself in Japan.

He was able to parlay that production into a one-year, $5.5 million deal, and he was able to parlay that deal into an incredible season.

It was so much of an incredible season that the Guardians decided to dip into their farm system to acquire Griffin despite the fact that he's set to be a free agent at the end of the season.

It's the exact kind of agressive move that the Guardians needed to make, and is the icing on the cake on what's been a stellar trade deadline.

The Guardians were able to get Foster Griffin without giving up too much

While the Guardians' acquisition of Griffin would be great regardless of the cost, it looks even better given they didn't need to give up too much.

According to The Athletic's Spencer Nusbaum, the Guardians are trading Will Dion, Josh Hartle, Kendeglys Virguez and Nick Mitchell to the Nationals in exchange for Griffin. That's a quantity over quality return if there's ever been one.

Of that return, Hartle holds the most promise. He's posted a 3.86 ERA in 93 1/3 innings at Double-A Akron this year, and was a clear option who could have helped the Guardians' rotation in 2027.

Dion has appeared in 12 games with the Guardians and posted a 4.58 ERA in 19 2/3 innings, but was never a part of the team's long-term future. Virguez is currently pitching in Double-A and Mitchell is in his first year playing in the outfield at Double-A Akron.

But they dealt that future potential for present day value in Griffin, who has a 3.06 ERA in 122 innings this season with Nationals.

Griffin's addition to the roster will have some huge ramifications for the Guardians' starting rotation. While the Guardians' rotation has been incredibly consistent this season, it's also been a house of cards since Cleveland doesn't have much pitching depth behind their current starting five.

Although the Guardians have yet to annouce what they're going to do with Griffin, he stands as an obvious upgrade over current No. 5 starter Slade Cecconi, who has a 4.78 ERA in 21 turns through the rotation.

But Cleveland adding Griffin means that they'll be able to roll out of a postseason rotation consisting of Gavin Williams, Parker Messick and Griffin with Tanner Bibee and Joey Cantillo being able to work in swingman roles.

That's about as dangerous of a rotation as you can get in the postseason.

While the Guardians are hanging on the fringes of the Wild Card picture right now, adding Griffin isn't a move made with the Wild Card in mind.

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