Cubs could target Foster Griffin as pitching insurance for 2025 |
Dustin Riese
· · 4 hours ago
Pitching, pitching, and more pitching. You can never have too much quality pitching.
The Chicago Cubs found out the hard way this season why pitching depth is crucial whether it was the loss of Justin Steele for the season or the losses of Shota Imanaga and Jameson Taillon for two months during the season, Chicago's pitching depth was tested this year, and for the most part, they managed to pass with flying colors. A significant reason for that was having Cade Horton emerge as the Ace of this staff, as he was the best pitcher in the game from the All-Star break on. Another significant reason was the performance of Colin Rea, who may be the MVP of the entire Cubs pitching staff. Signed to a one-year deal in the offseason, Rea was expected to have a swing role on the team, capable of making spot starts here and there. Instead, he was thrown into action once Steele went down with an injury, and had it not been for his performance, there is no doubt the Cubs' season would've been different. Not only did Rea log double-digit wins for the second time in his career, but he also reached a career high in starts and innings pitched, finishing second in both categories on the team this season. Rea was also the team's best pitcher down the stretch, aside from Horton, as he will now enter a crucial free-agent period with the chance of getting paid. With the possibility of losing Rea this offseason, the Cubs need to have a plan in place for addressing this situation, as they could use another arm like his in the bullpen. That is where left-hander Foster Griffin comes into play, as the Southpaw is ready to return to the States after spending some time in Japan. At 30 years old, Griffin still has some gas left in the tank, having spent most of his long career in the Kansas City Royals organization, but wasn't able to secure a consistent role in the majors. Given how tough it was for him to reach the majors, Griffin was eager to play at the highest level, which is why he made the jump to Japan and has spent the past three seasons there. During his time with the Yomiuri Giants, the former first-round pick had impressive numbers, going 18-10 with an ERA hovering around 2.50. That included a 6-1 showing this past season, during which Griffin posted a 1.52 ERA across 89 innings, walking 22 and striking out 87. Compare that to his minor league numbers, where he went 49-50 with a 4.54 ERA, and you can see how much Griffin has improved over the years, as he is another one of those classic late-bloomer pitchers. What stands out most about Griffin's performance in Japan is his ability to keep the ball on the ground, as better than 50% of his outs came on the ground. He added a 25% strikeout rate and a 5% walk rate, as both of those would be above league average at the MLB level. If the name sounds familiar, it would be largely attributed to his pitching against the Cubs when they faced off against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the Tokyo series to begin the season. In that game, Griffin allowed 4 ER over 5.0 innings, allowing 5 hits, three walks, and striking out 6. Those aren't considered significant numbers, but you could see the potential, as there was much more swing and miss in his game than he initially had stateside. While Griffin is by no means one of the top pitchers on the market, given the Cubs' history with starters, he falls into the category that Jed Hoyer is looking for and would be a great fallback option should Rea leave for another team. What makes him all the more intriguing is that he has experience both as a starter and a reliever, making him the perfect option to be a swingman out of the pen. Craig Counsell has been known for getting the most out of his pitching staff each season, as he tends to get creative with how to cover all the innings needed to get through a season. Having players like Griffin helps, as it gives the manager added flexibility about when and how often to use a player of his stature. When it comes to a stuff side of things, Griffin isn't going to blow you away as he averages 91 MPH with his heater, but can rush it up there at 93. With that comes a filthy slider that tends to sit around 85 MPH and has been equally as effective against righties and lefties. Throw in an 87 MPH cutter and an 86 MPH change, and he has four pitches to go to at any point in the count. That alone keeps hitters guessing, and sometimes the best pitchers are those who keep people guessing rather than overpowering them. Griffin is a name to watch during free agency and one the Cubs are expected to pursue.
