The Arizona Diamondbacks have placed Zack Littell on waivers after the veteran right-hander struggled.
The Arizona Diamondbacks are moving on from Zack Littell after a brief and difficult stint with the team.
Arizona placed the veteran right-hander on release waivers, putting his time with the organization in jeopardy just weeks after he joined the club. If Littell clears waivers, he will become a free agent and can explore his next opportunity.
The Diamondbacks designated Littell for assignment Sunday after using him in three games. Arizona had added him earlier this month after he was released by the Washington Nationals, bringing him in with the expectation that he could provide length out of the bullpen.
Littell's first appearance with Arizona offered plenty of reason for optimism. He entered a game against the Colorado Rockies and delivered 4.2 scoreless innings, helping the Diamondbacks complete a shutout victory. It was an encouraging debut for a pitcher who had just arrived and was expected to provide innings when needed.
The momentum did not last.
In his next two appearances, Littell struggled to keep opposing hitters in check. He surrendered 12 runs across 7.1 innings, including five home runs. Those outings quickly changed the outlook surrounding his future with Arizona and ultimately led to the club parting ways with him.
The home run problem has followed Littell throughout his recent stretch in the majors. He allowed 36 home runs last season and had already given up 30 more this year before joining the Diamondbacks. While he has generally done a good job limiting walks, the number of home runs allowed has made it difficult for him to consistently avoid big innings.
For Arizona, the decision comes less than three weeks after Littell signed a Major League contract with the club on Aug. 9. The Diamondbacks initially saw an opportunity to add an experienced arm capable of handling multiple innings, but his short performance window ultimately worked against him.
Littell's contract situation could also make his next move interesting. Washington remains responsible for most of his $3 million salary, along with a $4 million option buyout at the end of the season.
That could give another organization an incentive to take a chance on the 30-year-old pitcher, particularly if it believes it can help him regain the form he showed earlier in his career.
For now, though, Littell's time in Arizona is effectively over. After making a strong debut, his final two outings left the Diamondbacks with too many concerns to continue carrying him on the roster.
