WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — March 9, 2026 - Breaking news echoed through Cacti Stadium in Florida on Sunday afternoon, turning the Astros-Nationals preseason matchup into a backdrop for a bigger headline: right-hander Zack Littell has signed a one-year contract with Washington, which includes a mutual option for a second season.
Nationals fans were caught by surprise and excitement as the team added a proven major league arm. Littell, who debuted in 2018, joins his sixth MLB club with this signing. Primarily a reliever earlier in his career, he transitioned into a starting role after arriving in Tampa Bay in 2023, where the Rays successfully reshaped his role.
Littell, a right-hander known for sharp command and pitch variety, features a four-seam fastball with strong life up in the zone, backed by a sinker, slider, and splitter. Over his last two seasons with Tampa Bay and Cincinnati, he hasn’t missed a start and has earned a reputation as a durable “innings eater.” His consistency and strike-throwing ability with a career walk rate of just four percent make him an ideal fit for a young and evolving Nationals rotation.
The addition of Littell, along with fellow veteran Miles Mikolas from St. Louis, immediately shifts the dynamic of the Washington National’s pitching staff. These experienced arms bring stability and mentorship to a group still defining itself. Young pitchers competing for rotation spots can now learn from Littell and Mikolas, not only about in-game execution but about preparation and recovery between starts skills essential to sustaining success at the major league level.
According to ESPN’s latest projection, the Nationals’ Opening Day rotation could feature Zach Littell, Cade Cavalli, Foster Griffin, Josiah Gray, and Miles Mikolas. Several pitchers who started last season Brad Lord, Mitchell Parker, Jake Irvin, and Andrew Alvarez remain in competition for either starting or bullpen roles. Gray’s health remains a variable; if he’s delayed until late April, roster choices become more complex. Should he be ready, the team must decide whether to option younger arms to Triple-A Rochester or move them into relief roles.
Lord and Parker have prior bullpen experience, while Alvarez’s strong performance against left-handed hitters could earn him a situational bullpen spot. Irvin, meanwhile, has started 90 games for Washington over the past three seasons but may be ticketed for Rochester to maintain regular work and inning volume. Irvin and Parker each have two minor league options left, while Alvarez and Lord have three, allowing the Nationals to retain roster flexibility. However, Washington must also clear space on the 40-man roster for Littell’s addition — meaning one player will need to be designated for assignment in the coming days.
With two weeks left in spring training, both the players and front office face crucial decisions. The Washington Nationals’ recent moves make one thing clear: this organization is focused on sustainable growth. Their intent isn’t just to compete now, but to build a rotation and a culture designed to last.