Which MLB Teams Could Give a 30-Year-Old Pitcher Another Chance?
As with any professional sports league, Major League Baseball constantly changes. Including 40-man rosters, MLB has a total of 1,200 players. The best players remain at the big league level, while others are assigned to various levels of Minor League Baseball or play overseas, attempting to break through or prolong their careers in different leagues around the world. That being said, playing in MLB is still the ultimate prize.
While most international free agents search for their first taste of the big leagues, there is a player who is preparing to make a comeback to the MLB. Foster Griffin, a 30-year-old left-handed pitcher, has spent the last three seasons with the Yomiuri Giants in NPB. Griffin was a first-round draft choice out of high school by the Kansas City Royals during the 2014 MLB Draft, but he never received a sustained opportunity to prove himself at the highest level.
The left-hander made his MLB debut in 2020, throwing a little more than an inning for the Royals and picking up his first win. In 2022, Griffin resurfaced with Kansas City but struggled, posting an earned run average over 12 through five games. After a brief stint with the Toronto Blue Jays, he left the United States for Japan. During his time overseas, he elevated his game as a full-fledged starter, compiling 18 wins, 10 losses, and a 2.57 earned run average in more than 315 innings with the Giants. The question now is whether that résumé will be enough to earn him another chance in MLB. Contending teams looking for back-end rotation depth might view Griffin as a worthwhile addition.
With Brandon Woodruff accepting his qualifying offer to remain in Milwaukee, the Brewers will look to finalize their starting rotation. Strengthening the rotation would lessen the burden on the bullpen, which carried a heavy load during their playoff run last season. As things currently stand, the Brewers have an all-right-handed rotation with Woodruff, Freddy Peralta, Quinn Priester, and Jacob Misiorowski. Griffin would give them a left-handed option and provide valuable matchup flexibility.
If given the opportunity, Griffin would also fit well within the identity of Detroit Tigers starters who have battled through adversity at different stages of their careers. It took Tarik Skubal four years in the MLB to break out and win back-to-back AL Cy Young Awards. Casey Mize delivered a bounce-back 2025 season with 14 wins and only six losses. Consistency has been difficult to come by in recent years for Jack Flaherty, who has been experienc inconsistency in recent years, struggling in 2023 and 2025 with earned run averages above 4.50, but also producing a strong 2024 campaign with a 3.17 earned run average. Adding another pitcher with a similar mindset could help strengthen the group and push Detroit deeper into the postseason picture.
