The St. Louis Cardinals have been busy this offseason – but not in the way fans might’ve expected.
With Willson Contreras, Sonny Gray, and Nolan Arenado all shipped out, the roster’s taken a noticeable hit in veteran presence and star power. And while the subtraction column is filling up fast, the addition side has remained relatively quiet.
Outside of bringing in right-handers Dustin May and Ryne Stanek, the Cardinals haven’t done much to address their big-league needs.
That could change soon. President of Baseball Operations Chaim Bloom has made it clear he’s still on the hunt – specifically, for a veteran starter and a right-handed bat. And in a pitching market that’s thinning out fast, one name stands out as a practical, low-cost fit: Zack Littell.
Littell isn’t going to be the flashiest signing of the offseason, but he’s quietly built a strong résumé since transitioning to a full-time starter in 2024. Over the past two seasons, he’s logged 18 wins and kept his ERA under 4.00 both years – a mark of consistency that’s become increasingly rare in today’s game.
Even more impressive? He’s made 61 starts and thrown more than 340 innings in that span.
That kind of durability is gold for a team trying to stabilize its rotation.
Before stepping into a starting role, Littell was already showing value out of the bullpen. He posted sub-3.00 ERAs in two separate seasons as a reliever, including a standout 2021 campaign where he made 63 appearances.
He’s now eight years into his big-league career, with stops in Minnesota, San Francisco, Tampa Bay, Boston, and Cincinnati. But his most notable stretches came with the Giants and Rays – two clubs known for getting the most out of their pitchers.
Financially, Littell checks another box for the Cardinals. After earning $5.72 million last season, he’s likely available on a short-term, affordable deal – the kind of move that gives St. Louis flexibility without tying up long-term payroll.
Now, if you’re the type to dive into advanced metrics, Littell’s Baseball Savant page might not jump off the screen. But dig a little deeper, and you’ll find a pitcher who knows how to work a lineup.
His command is elite – no exaggeration. In 2025, he ranked in the 98th percentile for walk rate, issuing free passes just 4.2% of the time.
That’s not just good; that’s elite-level precision. He also posted a chase rate of 30.8%, putting him in the 79th percentile.
Translation: hitters are swinging at his pitches outside the zone – and missing – far more than average.
Littell might not headline the Cardinals’ rotation, but he doesn’t need to. What he brings is stability – a reliable arm who can give you quality innings, keep the team in games, and mentor the wave of young arms St. Louis is looking to develop.
For a team in transition, that kind of presence is invaluable. The Cardinals don’t need a Cy Young winner right now – they need a dependable veteran who can anchor the middle of the rotation and help guide the next generation. Zack Littell fits that mold, and if the price is right, this could be the kind of under-the-radar move that pays off in a big way come summer.
