Nationals Designate Zack Littell and Reinstal Brad Lord to Roster

Overview

• The Nationals announced Wednesday that right-hander Zack Littell was designated for assignment and that Brad Lord was reinstated from the 15-day injured list to take his roster spot.
• Littell has thrown about 112 innings this season with a 4.97 ERA, a career-low 14.6% strikeout rate, and 25 home runs allowed, figures Washington cited in the decision.
• Because Littell is signed to a one-year, $7 million deal with a $4 million buyout on a 2027 mutual option, analysts say other teams are likely to let him clear waivers and the Nationals will then release him.
• Clearing waivers and being released would void Littell’s inning-based incentives and make him available to sign elsewhere for roughly the prorated league minimum if a new club adds him.
• The move opens innings for returning Brad Lord and for younger starters such as Jackson Kent, Connelly Early and Luis Perales, signaling more opportunities for in-house arms down the stretch.