The San Diego Padres have added some pop to their lineup with the signing of Nick Castellanos, but as Opening Day creeps closer, one glaring question remains: who’s going to round out their starting rotation?
Right now, it’s a bit of a puzzle - and not the fun kind. Michael King and Joe Musgrove have the talent, no doubt.
But King only made 15 starts last season, and Musgrove hasn’t taken the mound since 2024. That’s a lot of uncertainty at the top.
Nick Pivetta showed real promise with a breakout year, but repeating that kind of performance is never guaranteed. Then there’s JP Sears and Randy Vasquez - both intriguing arms, but still more “maybe” than “sure thing” when it comes to consistent value over a full season.
In short, if the Padres want to make a serious push in 2026, they need one more dependable arm. Enter Zack Littell.
He’s not the flashiest name on the market, but what Littell brings is exactly what this rotation needs: stability. Over the past two seasons, he’s made 61 starts - a sign of durability that’s hard to ignore in today’s game.
His 3.88 career ERA might not scream “ace,” but it’s the kind of solid production that can anchor the back end of a rotation. And in 2025, he was more than just steady - he posted a 10-8 record with a 3.81 ERA, 130 strikeouts, and a WHIP of 1.104 across 186 innings.
That’s a workhorse profile, plain and simple.
For a Padres team that’s trying to stay competitive while managing a tight budget, Littell’s projected deal - three years for $38.6 million - makes a lot of sense. He’s cost-effective, reliable, and gives San Diego a much-needed floor-raiser.
No, he’s not going to headline a postseason rotation, but he doesn’t need to. What he can do is take the ball every fifth day, keep the bullpen fresh, and give his team a chance to win.
That’s gold for a team looking to contend.
If the Padres can lock this down soon, they’ll be one step closer to fielding a roster that can actually make noise come October.