The Atlanta Braves’ list of viable free-agent pitching options continues to shrink. One of the final names remaining, Zack Littell, appears to be off the board. According to Kiley McDaniel of ESPN, Littell has agreed to a deal with the Washington Nationals.
The 30-year-old right-hander had frequently been connected to the Braves, particularly after injuries to Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep significantly thinned the club’s starting rotation. Last season, Littell posted a 3.81 ERA across 32 starts split between the Rays and Reds. He has built a reputation for elite command—ranking in the 98th percentile in walk rate—and offers the type of durability that Atlanta’s current group of starters has lacked.
RHP Zack Littell and the Washington Nationals are in agreement on a contact, sources tell me and @JeffPassan.
— Kiley McDaniel (@kileymcd) March 8, 2026
Littell threw 186.2 innings last season with a 3.81 ERA for the Rays and Reds.
Zack Littell signing all but confirms the Braves are all-in on their internal pitching options
By the second week of March, the free-agent market for starting pitchers has thinned considerably. Littell and Lucas Giolito were among the few remaining options who reasonably fit the needs of the Braves. The issue, however, is that Atlanta has not appeared to show significant interest in either pitcher to this point.
Internal candidates to round out the rotation include Bryce Elder, Joey Wentz, and highly regarded prospect JR Ritchie. Some fans have speculated that the front office’s approach could shift after Jurickson Profar’s suspension potentially frees up around $15 million in payroll flexibility for the front office to work with.
That change could still occur once Profar’s suspension becomes official. However, regardless of how the team proceeds financially, Littell will no longer be an option by that point. With Littell now headed to the Nationals, the already thin free-agent market has become even more limited for the Braves.
Unless the front office pivots to a trade or another unexpected addition, Atlanta may have little choice but to rely on internal options like Elder, Wentz, or Ritchie to stabilize the rotation. With Opening Day approaching, the Braves’ next move — or lack thereof — will go a long way in determining how comfortable the team feels about its starting pitching depth heading into the season.