The Philadelphia Phillies are facing rotation concerns after failing to replace Ranger Suárez in free agency, while ace Zack Wheeler is expected to begin the season on the injured list, leaving the team with limited reliable starting options aside from Taijuan Walker and prospect Andrew Painter. Because of this, analysts, including Zachary Rotman of FanSided, believe the Phillies could quietly pursue veteran free-agent starter Zack Littell as a potential emergency rotation reinforcement.
Rotman suggested that Littell could provide much-needed pitching depth and function as a reliable backend starter until Wheeler returns. Although Philadelphia’s hitter-friendly ballpark may not be an ideal environment for Littell’s pitching style, the team’s urgent need for rotation stability could outweigh that concern late in the offseason.
Last season, Littell finished with a 10–8 record, a 3.81 ERA, 130 strikeouts, and a 1.104 WHIP across 186 innings, numbers that make him a solid option for a depth starter and potentially a more dependable choice than some of Philadelphia’s current internal alternatives.
The projected market value for Littell is around a three-year, $39 million contract, but since spring training has already begun and interest around him remains relatively quiet, the Phillies might be able to sign him on a shorter, more flexible deal if they move quickly.
