The Washington Nationals have moved on from Zack Littell, and the timing says as much about the roster as it does about the money.
On Friday, the club requested unconditional release waivers on the right-hander, two days after designating him for assignment on Aug. 5. Littell’s performance didn’t make the case for keeping him around - he posted a 4.97 ERA and an ERA+ that was 14 points below the league average mark of 100 over 23 outings, including 14 starts - but the real driver behind the decision was financial.
Washington was hoping a waiver claim would wipe away some of the cost tied to the deal. Littell signed a one-year, $7 million contract on March 10, with a $3 million salary this season and the remaining $4 million tied to a buyout on a $12 million mutual option for 2027.
If another club had claimed him, the Nationals would have been off the hook for the rest of his salary and that buyout. Instead, Littell cleared waivers, and interested teams can now pursue him as a free agent while only owing the minimum salary for the rest of the year.
That leaves Washington responsible for the remaining salary and the buyout, though the club did get out from under the innings incentives still attached to the contract.
It’s the sort of outcome teams try to avoid when a signing goes sideways. Littell came in with a strong reputation after being an effective starter over the previous two seasons, and plenty around the industry viewed him as a sensible upgrade for the rotation on paper. But the fit never took hold, and after months of frustration on both sides, the Nationals decided to cut bait.
They didn’t get the financial relief they were hoping for, but they did open a roster spot for a younger arm.
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