The Arizona Diamondbacks continue to push for a postseason berth as the regular season enters its final stretch, and they made a quiet but potentially useful addition to the roster over the weekend.
While splitting the first two games of their series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the club reached an agreement with veteran right-hander Zack Littell, a move first reported by Arizona Republic beat writer Nick Piecoro.
Littell, now in his ninth major league season, had been with the Washington Nationals earlier this year. The Nationals designated him for assignment after he went 7-8 with a 4.97 ERA across 14 starts and 23 total appearances. The Diamondbacks saw enough value in his experience and flexibility to bring him aboard.
His career path has taken him through several organizations since debuting with the Minnesota Twins in 2018.
That rookie year produced a rough 6.20 ERA, but he bounced back strongly in 2019 while working primarily out of the bullpen, posting a career-best 2.68 ERA over 29 appearances.
Subsequent stops included the San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays, and Cincinnati Reds before his time in Washington. Across 257 career appearances, including 93 starts, Littell holds a 41-37 record with a 4.05 ERA, 566 strikeouts, and 715 innings pitched.
The 6-foot-4, 250-pound hurler has shown the ability to work as both a multi-inning reliever and a starter, a versatility that could prove handy for Arizona.
At the time of the signing, the Diamondbacks sat at 62-56 and occupied the third and final National League wild-card position. With roughly 45 games remaining, every roster move carries weight. It remains unclear exactly how the team will deploy Littell.
He could serve as a stretch option out of the bullpen or fill in as a back-end starter. The club is also preparing for the return of Michael Soroka from the injured list on Monday.
Meanwhile, the current rotation features Mitch Bratt scheduled for Tuesday, with Eduardo Rodríguez, Brandon Pfaadt, and Merrill Kelly continuing to handle the bulk of the starting duties.
The timing of the addition, coming during a high-profile series against a perennial contender, underscores Arizona’s desire to stay competitive down the stretch.
Whether Littell becomes a regular contributor or provides occasional depth, the Diamondbacks have added another experienced arm as they fight to keep their playoff hopes alive.
