Nationals sign RHP Zack Littell to one-year, $7M deal

Field Level Media|published: 03/10/2026, 1:58pm EDT

Oct 1, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Zack Littell (52) throws a pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning during game two of the Wildcard round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

The Washington Nationals signed right-hander Zack Littell to a one-year, $7 million contract on Tuesday.

The deal includes a $3 million salary for 2026 and a $12 million mutual option for 2027 with a $4 million buyout.

Littell, 30, can earn up to $2.5 million more in performance bonuses based on total innings pitched.

He was 10-8 with a 3.81 ERA in 32 starts in 2025 split between the Tampa Bay Rays (8-8 in 22 starts) and Cincinnati Reds (2-0 in 10).

Littell is 34-29 with three saves and a 3.88 ERA in 234 career games (79 starts) over eight seasons with five different teams.

In a corresponding move on Tuesday to create room on the roster, the Nationals designated left-hander Richard Lovelady for assignment.

Washington selected Lovelady, 30, off waivers on Jan. 29 from the New York Mets, who signed him as a free agent on Oct. 23, 2025. He is a career 5-13 with three saves and a 5.35 ERA in 118 games (zero starts) for six teams in six seasons between 2019 and 2025.

--Field Level Media