Opening Day is less than three weeks away, but the Nats aren't done adding to their roster. Washington has reached an agreement with right-hander Zack Littell, a source told MLB.com. The team hasn't confirmed the deal.
The 30-year-old Littell, who spent the first five seasons of his career as a middle-relief arm, has been one of the Majors’ more dependable control artists over the past couple of years. He logged a career-high 186 2/3 innings in 2025, split between the Rays and Reds. Littell threw at least five innings in 27 of his 32 starts, recorded a 3.81 ERA and ended up making his first career playoff start in National League Wild Card Series Game 2 against the Dodgers.
Littell is the fourth veteran arm the Nationals have signed during camp. Last month, they added starter Miles Mikolas (37) and relievers Cionel Pérez (29) and Drew Smith (32).
If the Nats continue to utilize Littell as a starter, that poses questions for the rotation. Cade Cavalli, Jake Irvin, Foster Griffin and Mikolas have been projected to start, with Brad Lord likely to earn the fifth spot if Josiah Gray is not ready for Opening Day.
Littell employs a five-pitch mix, but he generally relies on his slider, splitter and four-seamer, three pitches that he each threw about 25% of the time this past season. All of his pitches average less than 93 mph, and he often posts below-league-average whiff and strikeout rates, but Littell makes up for his lack of swing-and-miss with pinpoint command. His 4.2% walk rate in 2025 ranked in the 98th percentile in MLB, and his 4.1% walk rate since the beginning of 2023 ranks third best in the big leagues (minimum 1,000 batters faced).
An 11th-round Draft pick by the Mariners in 2013, Littell spent time in six organizations before the Rays picked him up off of waivers in May 2023. Prior to that point, Littell had a 4.17 career ERA across 147 appearances -- and only four starts -- with the Twins, Giants and Red Sox. Tampa Bay turned Littell into a full-time starter by the end of July that year, and he thrived immediately. Over 65 starts with the Rays, Littell logged a 3.57 ERA and a 3.8% walk rate. He was dealt to Cincinnati before the ‘25 Trade Deadline.