Zack

Littell

It sounds like nothing more than the Yankees doing their due diligence here on the 30-year-old right-hander. Littell was released by the Diamondbacks on Wednesday after struggling to a 5.21 ERA over 124 1/3 innings between the D’Backs and the Nationals. If he latches on elsewhere, it will almost certainly have to be on a minor league deal as extra rotation depth.

Littell passed through waivers unclaimed after being designated for assignment by Arizona over the weekend. The well-traveled 30-year-old wound up making just three relief appearances for the Diamondbacks after signing earlier this month. He makes sense as a long relief option on a contending roster since he’s posted a serviceable 5.21 ERA across 124 1/3 innings of work this season.

With Drey Jameson returning from the injured list on Sunday, the Diamondbacks needed to free up a spot on their active roster and Littell drew the short straw. The 30-year-old hurler posted a 7.50 ERA, 2.08 WHIP and a 3/4 K/BB ratio over 12 innings in three appearances with the Diamondbacks.

It didn’t take Littell very long to find a new opportunity after being jettisoned by the Nationals last week. The 30-year-old figures to operate in a versatile swingman role with the Diamondbacks after forging an underwhelming 4.97 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 70/35 K/BB ratio across 112 1/3 innings for Washington earlier this year. He’s unlikely to offer any semblance of fantasy value over the final two months, but he should gobble up plenty of innings for Arizona.

Littell had a 4.97 ERA in 112 1/3 innings for Washington before being let go. The D-backs are getting Michael Soroka back this week, so Littell will probably pitch in middle relief initially, as there wouldn’t seem to be a rotation opening for him.

This will clear the way for a trial for some of Washington’s Triple-A pitching prospects down the stretch. Littell will look to catch on elsewhere as a veteran stopgap starter option.

The Littell era in Washington concludes with a cromulent 4.97 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 70/35 K/BB ratio across 112 1/3 innings over 23 appearances, including 14 starts. The 30-year-old should be able to latch on somewhere as an innings-eater for the final two months of the season, but his odds of returning to fantasy relevance are extremely slim.

Palmquist flopped as an opener, retiring just one of the four batters he faced, and the Nationals never made a game of it after Littell entered. The loss went to Palmquist, so Littell remains 7-8 with a 4.97 ERA. He’ll face the Reds on Sunday.

Littell struck out two, walked three, and allowed four hits. It was a fine performance against one of the lighter-hitting lineups in MLB, and it helped that Toronto was without Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Littell remains an innings-eater for Washington’s pitching staff this summer, and he isn’t on the fantasy radar in any format. He’ll carry a 4.94 ERA into his next start, scheduled to come on the road against the Phillies.

Littell took over for Carson Palmquist, who allowed two earned runs over 1 1/3 innings of work. While two runs were charged to Palmquist, it was Littell who gave up the hits that allowed both runs to cross, and it was the sacrifice fly he allowed to Gabriel Moreno in the seventh inning that proved to be the difference-maker. Littell’s outing was far better than the eight earned runs he allowed last week against the A’s, and he’s now allowed one earned run in three of his last four games. He’s set to take the mound next on Wednesday at home against the Blue Jays.