Littell first arrived in Tampa in May 2023, after the Rays claimed the right-hander off waivers from the Red Sox. At the time, Littell had started only four of his 147 career games in parts of six Major League seasons, and had produced inconsistent results as a reliever. However, in yet another victory for the Rays’ excellent pitching development staff, Littell went from a multi-inning reliever to a true starter by the end of the season, and he went on to become a fixture in the rotation for the next two seasons.
Over 376 2/3 innings in a Tampa Bay uniform, Littell posted a 3.68 ERA, a 19.39% strikeout rate and an excellent 3.92% walk rate. Littell has had trouble keeping the ball in the park and doesn’t miss many bats, but his elite control and durability have made his transition into the rotation very successful. With the Rays falling out of contention at the deadline, Littell was dealt to the Reds as part of a three-team trade that also included the Dodgers, and Littell had a 4.39 ERA over 53 1/3 innings to help Cincinnati reach the playoffs.
Only ten pitchers in all of baseball topped the 186 2/3 innings Littell threw in 2025. This ability to eat innings would be a big help for any rotation, but especially for a Tampa Bay staff that leaves a few question marks. Drew Rasmussen And Ryan Pepiot. Shane Baz was only so-so in his first full MLB season, Ian Seymour looked good as a rookie, but has only 57 big league innings to his credit, and Shane McClanahan has not pitched in over two years due to an injury. Topkin’s piece includes the positive note that McClanahan is having “somewhat normal” offseason throwing progression as he recovers from the nerve issue that sidelined him for all of 2025, and the next checkpoint will come when McClanahan begins throwing off a mound in mid-January.
MLB Trade Rumors ranked Littell 35th on our list of the winter’s 50 best free agents and predicted the righty would get a two-year, $24 million contract. A three-year deal isn’t out of the question as Littell is entering his age-30 season and there is a lot of value in a durable arm that can reliably cover innings, but in terms of average annual value, Littell’s asking price should remain within the Rays’ limited spending range.
Compared to the other well-known pitching targets, Littell will cost more than Eflin or Houser, but will also deliver more in terms of reliability. This could make the front office more willing to take what counts as a significant financial dip for the Rays, although more money could be freed up by trading other players from the current roster.
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