The Washington Nationals might have pulled off the steal of the offseason—and it's a name you probably haven't heard yet.

Meet Foster Griffin, a 30-year-old left-handed starting pitcher who spent the last two seasons pitching for the Yomiuri Giants in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. This past winter, the Nationals inked him to a one-year, $5.5 million contract. So far, it's looking like one of the best bargains in baseball.

Through eight starts, Griffin has posted a sparkling 2.12 ERA, turning heads across the league. As FanSided's Robert Murray notes, the Nationals now have some intriguing options: they could shop Griffin as a trade deadline asset if they fall out of contention, or they could lock him up long-term—though no extension talks have happened yet.

What makes this story even more compelling? Murray compares Griffin's potential payday to some of the game's top left-handed arms. Recent big-money deals for pitchers like Max Fried, Cristopher Sanchez, Jesús Luzardo, Ranger Suárez, Framber Valdez, and Carlos Rodón set a high bar. If Griffin keeps dealing like this, he could be next in line for a massive contract this winter.

For a Nationals team sitting at 20-22, Griffin represents both a valuable trade chip and a potential cornerstone. Dozens of teams could use an arm like his in their rotation right now. Washington was smart enough to strike while the iron was hot—and the payoff is just beginning.