Here’s a compilation of the latest reporting from The Athletic’s team of reporters as Monday’s trade deadline approaches.Foster Griffin conundrumTrade or extend? Nationals face a choiceFor the Washington Nationals, the decision on how to proceed with left-hander Foster Griffin comes down to a simple question: Which would be more valuable to them, signing Griffin to an extension or the return they might get in a trade?As of Saturday morning both outcomes remain possible, according to a person briefed on the Nationals’ dealings. The decision ultimately might rest on whether the Nats deem the value of a trade to be significantly greater than that of an extension.Griffin, 31, has been one of the best stories of the 2026 campaign, returning from three seasons in Japan to sign a one-year, $5.5 million free-agent contract with the Nationals and produce a 3.06 ERA in 129 1/3 innings.A number of left-handed rental starters are available in trade. The list is topped by Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, and also includes the San Francisco Giants’ Robbie Ray, Baltimore Orioles’ Trevor Rogers and Los Angeles Dodgers’ Eric Lauer. Griffin’s salary is lower than all but Lauer’s, making him attractive to both large- and small-market clubs.The trade market also includes controllable lefties such as the Los Angeles Angels’ Reid Detmers and New York Yankees’ Ryan Weathers, not to mention a large number of right-handed starters, both rental and controllable.The Nationals could trade Griffin and then try to re-sign him as a free agent, but teams rarely succeed in such maneuvers. Players who are traded often feel a cord is cut, and get swayed by the competition on the open market.The financial latitude with which the new Nats’ front office is operating is unclear. Griffin, though, does not figure to command a particularly long or pricey contract. The Athletic’s Barry Svrluga recently speculated that Griffin might be in line for a three-year deal in the range of $36 million to $42 million. — RosenthalWhy is everyone watching for hugs before the trade deadline?Tyler Kepner and Lauren Morales-JonesDodgers on SkubalPursuit expected even as rotation gets healthierPart of the reason Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman has downplayed the need for starting pitching (read: Tarik Skubal) is because the Dodgers believe they’ll have their rotation of aces back at full strength by October. That’s indeed looking more likely, even with Shohei Ohtani’s status as a pitcher uncertain.Blake Snell (elbow surgery) will make his final rehab outing Tuesday with Triple-A Oklahoma. Tyler Glasnow, who has been out since early May with recurring back spasms, will start a rehab assignment Tuesday with Class-A Ontario. He’s scheduled to throw two innings.