Nats agree to one-year deal with veteran starter Littell, source confirms

The Nationals are set to add workhorse right-hander Zack Littell to a rotation that's suddenly much more crowded than it was at the start of spring training

The Nationals are adding another veteran innings-eater to a rotation that suddenly looks more crowded than expected, agreeing to terms with Zack Littell on a one-year, major-league contract.

Littell’s signing, which won’t be official until he passes a physical, was confirmed by two sources familiar with the deal. It was first reported by ESPN.

The 30-year-old right-hander was a workhorse for the Rays and Reds last season, totaling 186 2/3 innings while going 10-8 with a 3.81 ERA and 1.104 WHIP. He threw 156 1/3 innings for Tampa Bay in 2024, going 8-10 with a 3.63 ERA and 1.247 WHIP.

Those qualities make Littell particularly attractive for a Nationals club that entered the spring with few proven starters. Over the last month, though, the Nats have signed veteran Miles Mikolas for $2.25 million while seeing Cade Cavalli and Josiah Gray prove themselves healthy and effective after long-term rehab from Tommy John surgery.

Over the winter, the team also signed left-hander Foster Griffin, who thrived in Japan the last three seasons, for $5.5 million. Meanwhile, right-handers Jake Irvin (90 starts over the last three years) and Brad Lord (19 starts as a rookie last season) have been working as starters this spring, with Irvin agreeing to a $2.8 million salary to avoid arbitration.

Though he remained unsigned into March, Littell has been throwing on his own and has built up his arm as if he was preparing for the season, according to a source close to the right-hander. It remains to be seen if the Nationals would put him in their Opening Day rotation or want to give him more time to prepare.

Originally an 11th-round pick of the Mariners, Littell made his major-league debut in 2018 for the Twins and spent the next five seasons pitching mostly in relief, moving from Minnesota to San Francisco to Boston to Tampa.

The Rays made him a full-time starter in 2023, and he has remained in that role since, developing into one of the sport’s most-durable arms. With only 1.6 walks issued per nine innings as a starter, he has proven himself a strike thrower who uses a deep repertoire (four-seam fastball, sinker, slider, splitter) to induce weak contact.

The Nationals will need to clear a 40-man roster spot before officially signing Littell.