The Diamondbacks have agreed to a deal with right-hander Zack Littell, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports. The signing comes two days after Littell (a CAA Sports client) was released from his one-year, $7MM contract with the Nationals.
That $7MM guarantee comes in the form of a $3MM base salary, and a $4MM buyout of a $12MM mutual option for the 2027 season. Washington remains responsible for almost all of Littell’s remaining owed salary, minus the prorated MLB minimum salary that will be covered by the D’Backs.
The 30-year-old Littell has a 4.97 ERA, 7.3% walk rate, and 14.6% strikeout rate over 112 1/3 innings this season, working as both a starter and as a bulk pitcher behind an opener. Besides the solid walk rate, there’s not a lot to like about Littell’s bottom-line numbers or Statcast metrics, though his ERA was a little inflated by a trio of particularly rough starts in April.
Littell brought a career 3.88 ERA into the 2026 season, and he showed good durability in tossing 186 2/3 innings for the Rays and Reds just a year ago. His lack of strikeouts and some increased propensity for allowing home runs has lowered his value around the league, however, turning Littell into more of a back-of-the-rotation type.
An innings-eater might be just what the Diamondbacks need to help cover some starts until some of their injured starters return to action. Michael Soroka is expected to be activated from the 15-day IL tomorrow, so Littell can slot in behind Eduardo Rodriguez, Merrill Kelly, Brandon Pfaadt, and Soroka, with rookie Mitch Bratt probably heading to the bullpen. The D’Backs could also consider using Bratt and Littell in a piggyback situation, similar to how the Nats used openers to shield Littell from starting the game against tough left-handed batters.
As Piecoro notes, the Diamondbacks did have their eyes on a more prominent add at the deadline, but the Mets pulled out of a proposed deal that would’ve sent Clay Holmes to Arizona. Left without any pitching upgrades pre-deadline, the D’Backs have now signed Littell and (on a minors deal) Dennis Santana to add some more depth for the playoff push.
