The Nationals have designated RHP Zack Littell for assignment, the reciprocal move for the team activating RHP Brad Lord from the 15-day injured list.
Littell, who signed a one-year deal with a mutual 2027 option this past winter, was 7-8 with a 4.93 ERA in 23 appearances but only 14 starts – the other nine times pitching as the ‘bulk’ option behind an opener. The 30-year-old didn’t sign until March, perhaps explaining a slower start, but he had posted a 3.98 ERA since May 1.
Still, the Nationals are cutting bait with a pitcher who has just three quality starts this season despite being third on the team in starts, and went 6 2/3 innings – his second-longest outing of the year – in his final game on Tuesday night.
The Nats will be on the hook for the $4 million buyout of his 2027 option, and if no one claims Littell on waivers or in a trade, they will also owe him the remainder of his $3 million base salary for this year, minus the prorated MLB minimum for any days he spends on another team’s MLB roster or IL.
Lord spent a month on the IL with tightness in his left side, and was 5-2 with a 3.88 ERA in 58 innings over 27 games (one start) as a longer relief option out of the Nats’ bullpen before his injury.
His length could be huge for a Nats bullpen that now sits behind a rotation that, without Littell and the traded Foster Griffin, has Cade Cavalli and Jake Irvin at the top and a lot of moving parts in the back end.
Andrew Alvarez returned from Triple-A Monday and will now likely stay in the rotation, and Miles Mikolas – who has made 10 starts but also 13 bulk appearances behind an opener – will also factor in. The fifth spot, which is needed again Sunday, is TBD, although Trevor Williams, who has made three relief appearances since being activated from the IL, could slot in there.
The Nats do have two Top 10 prospects, Jackson Kent and Luis Perales, at Triple-A, with Perales on the 40-man roster, and recently-acquired Connelly Early could be back later this month from his elbow issue as well.
