The Washington Nationals signed right-hander Zack Littell to a one-year, $7 million contract on Tuesday.
The deal includes a $3 million salary for 2026 and a $12 million mutual option for 2027 with a $4 million buyout.
Littell, 30, can earn up to $2.5 million more in performance bonuses based on total innings pitched.
He was 10-8 with a 3.81 ERA in 32 starts in 2025 split between the Tampa Bay Rays (8-8 in 22 starts) and Cincinnati Reds (2-0 in 10).
Littell is 34-29 with three saves and a 3.88 ERA in 234 career games (79 starts) over eight seasons with five different teams.
In a corresponding move on Tuesday to create room on the roster, the Nationals designated left-hander Richard Lovelady for assignment.
Washington selected Lovelady, 30, off waivers on Jan. 29 from the New York Mets, who signed him as a free agent on Oct. 23, 2025. He is a career 5-13 with three saves and a 5.35 ERA in 118 games (zero starts) for six teams in six seasons between 2019 and 2025.
