{"id":109452,"date":"2025-11-16T23:42:11","date_gmt":"2025-11-17T04:42:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=109452"},"modified":"2025-11-16T23:42:11","modified_gmt":"2025-11-17T04:42:11","slug":"rays-should-reunite-former-pitcher-zack-littell-free-agency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/11\/16\/rays-should-reunite-former-pitcher-zack-littell-free-agency\/","title":{"rendered":"Rays Should Reunite with Former Pitcher in Free Agency"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Tampa Bay Rays are usually at the top of the league when it comes to making trades. The Rays typically extract maximum value from the sheer amount of trades they execute. However, the Rays aren’t perfect, and they may want a mulligan on a trade deadline move made last July. They need more depth in the rotation, and there’s an opportunity to reunite with a former pitcher in free agency. It’s not like the Rays got a whole lot back when they traded Zack Littell<\/a> at the summer deadline.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Sep 20, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Reds pitcher Zack Littell (52) throws against the Chicago Cubs in the first inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Rays Should Reunite with Zack Littell This Offseason<\/h2>\n

They Miss the Guy<\/h3>\n

The Rays felt they had a rotation surplus when they shipped Taj Bradley<\/a> and Littell in two separate trades last summer. The Rays definitely didn’t<\/a> miss Bradley, and there were reportedly<\/a> larger issues between the organization and player. Littell actually struggled after the trade<\/a>, and fans are wondering if the front office made the right decision.<\/p>\n

Overall, Littell, 30, posted a 3.81 ERA in 186 2\/3 innings and 32 starts. He posted better numbers with the Rays. With Tampa Bay, he had a 3.58 ERA in 22 starts, whereas he only posted a 4.39 ERA in 10 starts for the Reds. The Rays need to carefully examine what plagued him during his final few weeks in the Queen City. Is it a susceptibility to giving up long balls? Was the command poor?<\/p>\n

It appears that Littell gave up an unsustainable amount of home runs and walks. He handed out an indefensible 21 home runs and walks combined in 53 1\/3 innings of work. Additionally, he logged a .231 BABIP in Cincy, which suggests that maybe his numbers were on the unlucky side. Don’t forget the nature of the ballpark he was pitching at in Ohio. His overall 4.2% walk rate is still the second-lowest reading of his eight-year career.<\/p>\n

The Return Was So Small<\/h3>\n

The Rays typically have these trades go in their favor. Think of the Tyler Glasnow<\/a> fleecing from the Pittsburgh Pirates years ago. It’s hard to see the value they obtained from the Littell trade<\/a>.<\/p>\n

To make matters worse, the Rays recently discovered that one of the return pieces in the trade needs elbow surgery and is expected to miss the entire 2026 season. Brian Van Belle<\/a> will now be banished to Triple-A as he won’t be expected to contribute next season.<\/p>\n

\n

#Rays<\/a> RHP Brian Van Belle cleared waivers and was outrighted to AAA @DurhamBulls<\/a>. Expected to miss all of 2026 season following elbow surgery.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) November 13, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n