Nationals cut ties with former Blue Jays, Mets reliever for Zack Littell reason
Nationals cut ties with former Blue Jays, Mets reliever for Zack Littell reason originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
After signing right-handed starting pitcher Zack Littell to a one-year, $7 million contract, the Washington Nationals needed to make space on the 40-man roster.
There were likely several players they could have chosen, but a left-handed reliever took the brunt of the decision.
Six-year veteran Richard Lovelady was designated for assignment by the NL East club on Tuesday, the Nationals announced. Lovelady made a combined 10 appearances last season with the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Mets , allowing 11 earned runs and striking out 12 in 11.2 innings.
The 30-year-old has never thrown more than 34.1 Major League innings in a season and owns a 5.35 career ERA since his debut in 2019 with the Kansas City Royals .
How Littell fits in Washington's rotation
Littell, a 30-year-old veteran, agreed to a one-year contract ; he may be traded away by the deadline if the Nationals are out of contention.
He joins a projected rotation that includes Miles Mikolas , Cade Cavalli , Brad Lord , Foster Griffin , and Jake Irvin . It's almost certain not to be the best in the National League, but it has a nice mix of veterans and youth.
Littell began last season with the Tampa Bay Rays and ended it with the Cincinnati Reds , posting a 3.81 ERA with a 17.1 K% and 40.0 ground ball rate. He has made 29 or more starts in each of the past two seasons.
