Padres’ Foster Griffin prediction makes Erick Fedde’s next chapter worth remembering

The Padres can talk us into Foster Griffin. They’ll have a harder time convincing us the rotation is finished once he signs. At a projected three years and $39 million, the left-hander would be a substantial investment in a pitcher whose career finally found traction after a detour through Japan. We can see the appeal. San Diego needs starting pitching, and finding someone before his price gets ridiculous is a perfectly reasonable way to shop.

Then we remember Erick Fedde. He rebuilt his career in Korea, returned to the majors with a strong 2024 season, then posted a 5.49 ERA in 2025. Teams had every reason to believe he had improved. Keeping that improvement proved harder. He finished 2026 as a reliever for the White Sox.

That’s the concern hanging over a potential Griffin signing. We can believe in the breakthrough and still want the Padres prepared for what happens when Griffin slips. Three guaranteed years would give San Diego plenty of time to find out how durable his progress really is.

Griffin has already cleared an important hurdle. He returned from Japan and delivered a 3.06 ERA across 22 starts for Washington in 2026 before moving to Cleveland. Calling him an overseas mystery wouldn’t be accurate. Big-league hitters have already seen him, and he earned his way into this conversation.

The Padres would need more pitching after Foster Griffin

At $13 million per year, we’d expect Griffin to offer enough competitive innings. The Padres would still need him to take a regular turn and keep games manageable. It’s modest as long as it isn’t the team’s offseason plan.

We should want another established starter alongside Griffin, plus credible depth beyond the Opening Day five. And not a collection of spring invitations. The Padres need to add more credible pitchers to the club.

Griffin deserves to be evaluated on his own pitches, health and performance. Still, the Padres should understand how quickly a sensible signing can become a roster problem when there’s nobody behind it.

Three years and $39 million would also create an obligation that outlasts the excitement of landing him. We can like the annual price and still expect A.J. Preller to leave enough room for another arm. 

We’d welcome Griffin as part of a serious pitching haul. Give him a regular job, reasonable expectations and teammates who can absorb a rough stretch, and there’s plenty to like.

But if he’s the centerpiece of San Diego’s rotation repair, we’re being asked to applaud an offseason with too much left unfinished.

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