The Tampa Bay Rays are usually at the top of the league when it comes to making trades. The Rays typically extract maximum value from the sheer amount of trades they execute. However, the Rays aren’t perfect, and they may want a mulligan on a trade deadline move made last July. They need more depth in the rotation, and there’s an opportunity to reunite with a former pitcher in free agency. It’s not like the Rays got a whole lot back when they traded Zack Littell at the summer deadline.
Rays Should Reunite with Zack Littell This Offseason
They Miss the Guy
The Rays felt they had a rotation surplus when they shipped Taj Bradley and Littell in two separate trades last summer. The Rays definitely didn’t miss Bradley, and there were reportedly larger issues between the organization and player. Littell actually struggled after the trade, and fans are wondering if the front office made the right decision.
Overall, Littell, 30, posted a 3.81 ERA in 186 2/3 innings and 32 starts. He posted better numbers with the Rays. With Tampa Bay, he had a 3.58 ERA in 22 starts, whereas he only posted a 4.39 ERA in 10 starts for the Reds. The Rays need to carefully examine what plagued him during his final few weeks in the Queen City. Is it a susceptibility to giving up long balls? Was the command poor?
It appears that Littell gave up an unsustainable amount of home runs and walks. He handed out an indefensible 21 home runs and walks combined in 53 1/3 innings of work. Additionally, he logged a .231 BABIP in Cincy, which suggests that maybe his numbers were on the unlucky side. Don’t forget the nature of the ballpark he was pitching at in Ohio. His overall 4.2% walk rate is still the second-lowest reading of his eight-year career.
The Return Was So Small
The Rays typically have these trades go in their favor. Think of the Tyler Glasnow fleecing from the Pittsburgh Pirates years ago. It’s hard to see the value they obtained from the Littell trade.
To make matters worse, the Rays recently discovered that one of the return pieces in the trade needs elbow surgery and is expected to miss the entire 2026 season. Brian Van Belle will now be banished to Triple-A as he won’t be expected to contribute next season.
#Rays RHP Brian Van Belle cleared waivers and was outrighted to AAA @DurhamBulls. Expected to miss all of 2026 season following elbow surgery.
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) November 13, 2025
Plus, the Los Angeles Dodgers somehow got their hands on Ben Rortvedt, and he found the change of scenery to his benefit. Rortvedt was a .204 hitter with the Rays, but the Dodgers found themselves utilizing Rortvedt as they worked Will Smith back into the lineup. The Rays received Hunter Feduccia from the Dodgers, but he only posted a .151 batting average in 36 games for Tampa Bay. It’s not what you want.
Takeaways
The Rays now have an opportunity to somewhat mitigate the trade in their favor. They can re-acquire Littell and pretend like nothing ever happened. Plus, Littell shouldn’t be prohibitively expensive, as he is projected to receive a two or three-year contract. He’s not deep enough into his 30s to scare away too many teams, but Littell brings a veteran presence to a rotation.
Once again, if the Rays are floundering in the standings at the trade deadline, they can once again try to boost their team by trading him to a contender. Erik Neander’s 2024 summer trade deadline activity is receiving scrutiny, and the front office needs to improve its track record on these types of trades. The Rays don’t have a huge margin of error in the American League East.
Main Photo Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
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