Dodgers Trade Idea Acquires Rays' Zack Littell to Stabilize Starting Rotation
Dodgers Trade Idea Acquires Rays' Zack Littell to Stabilize Starting Rotation originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Los Angeles Dodgers' pitching staff is in turmoil. Although it does not rank the worst in baseball, and top-tier reinforcements are returning from injury, they could use an upgrade in two areas: starting pitcher and reliever.
Advertisement
While the Dodgers could swing for the fences and try to acquire Marlins' ace Sandy Alcantara and one of the marquee bullpen arms available, filling both needs with one player is a more reasonable option.
ClutchPoints' RB Hayek believes Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Zack Littell is an ideal trade candidate for the Dodgers.
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
"Littell has been productive this season, going 6-7 with a 3.78 ERA over 16 starts for the Rays. No, he isn't a dominant starting pitcher. But he is the exact arm the Dodgers could mold into postseason success," Hayek wrote.
"Remember, this is the same team that won the World Series with just three starting pitchers. If the Dodgers were to get Littell, they would have a surplus of pitchers and be able to mix and match them wherever they want in the playoffs. It would also help them in tight games against the Philadelphia Phillies or New York Mets, should they meet either team."
Advertisement
Predominantly a starting pitcher now, Littell is known for eating innings. He surpassed the 150 innings benchmark last season and is well on his way to doing it again in 2025. Again, he is not the best pitcher on the market, but joining Los Angeles would allow Littel to provide stability to a rotation desperate for it.
And say Shohei Ohtani pitches more than one-inning outings this season, and Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell return shortly after the deadline. Littell could stay in the rotation or slide back into a relief role -- something he did the first seven seasons of his career.
As Los Angeles starts to make phone calls about potential trades, it is worth keeping in mind that the biggest trade is not always the best trade. Littell provides the Dodgers rotation and bullpen flexibility without being tied down by a long-term contract.
Related: Dodgers Targeting Rays' 2.15 ERA Reliever to Bolster Bullpen
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 26, 2025, where it first appeared.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
35 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Desmond Bane Sends Clear Message on Magic Star Paolo Banchero
Desmond Bane Sends Clear Message on Magic Star Paolo Banchero originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Orlando Magic wasted no time in improving its roster this offseason. Even before the 2025 NBA playoffs ended, the Magic traded for Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies to solve some of their concerns. One of the areas the Magic needed to address over the summer was their offensive options. Advertisement Outside of their star forwards, Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, the Magic didn't have another player who could create shots. By trading for Bane, the organization solved that problem. The addition of the 6-foot-5 guard also gives them another outside shooter. During the 2024-25 season, Orlando had the worst 3-point shooting and made only 31.8% of their attempts. Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane drives to the basket as Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero Thomas-Imagn Images On Thursday, Bane was invited to appear as a guest on the program, "The Zach Lowe Show." During his appearance, the newest member of the Magic spoke highly of Banchero. According to him, he believes that the former Duke star could rack up multiple All-NBA selections throughout his career. Advertisement "Obviously, Paolo is going to be a first team All-NBA type guy for probably multiple years in his career," Bane said. Last season, Banchero had another All-Star season, averaging 25.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists. Unfortunately for the young forward, he wasn't selected for any of the All-NBA teams. The reason is that he only appeared in 46 games and didn't meet the 65-game requirement for players to qualify for NBA awards. Staying healthy is key for Banchero to be considered for the awards. He missed 34 games due to a torn oblique injury. Playing at least 65 games isn't an issue for Banchero. He won the Rookie of the Year in 2023 and played 72 games. He followed that up with an 80-game season in his sophomore year. Advertisement Bane also believes that he can fit "like a glove" with Orlando's young squad. "I think that it fits like a glove and my skill set is something that can really help take some pressure off of Franz, Paolo, Suggs, and all the guys." With another scoring option in Bane, the Magic could be an interesting team to watch for the 2025-26 season. Related: Magic President Excited for French NBA Rookie This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
41 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Kristaps Porzingis' Message to Trae Young Turns Heads After Celtics Trade
Kristaps Porzingis' Message to Trae Young Turns Heads After Celtics Trade originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Atlanta Hawks officially acquired veteran center Kristaps Porzingis to team up with star guard Trae Young in a three-team trade involving the Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets. The Celtics sent Porzingis as part of a salary-clearing deal that brought in Georges Niang and allowed Boston to avoid luxury tax penalties. Advertisement Porzingis's two seasons in Boston were a mix of highs and lows, with both high-level impact and injury setbacks. He arrived in June 2023 and ultimately helped the Celtics to their 18th NBA title that same season. However, the big man endured health setbacks in his second year, as he was limited to just 42 games throughout the 2024-25 regular season, averaging 19.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.5 blocks. Shortly after the trade, Hawks star Trae Young took to X to welcome the 7-foot center. Porzingis responded to the post hours later with a message of his own: '🤝 @TheTraeYoung lets gooo,' hinting at positive synergy between the two stars. Fans quickly voiced their reactions online. Hawks fans projected optimism with messages Advertisement 'Let's get this number 1 seed guys 🥳🥳,' one fan wrote. 'We ready demon, let's have a great and healthy year big bro,' another fan added. 'Let's go KP ring #2 OTW 🙌👏🔥🔥🔥🔥,' a third fan mentioned. A skeptic brought up Porzingis's past friction over playing styles—'Didn't you hate playing with Luka? You'll hate Trae,' the fan wrote. One Celtics supporter also expressed gratitude to Porzingis—'Thank you for everything! 🫡☘️' Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis (8)© Kyle Ross-Imagn Images Porzingis arrives in Atlanta with a reputation as a unicorn on both ends of the floor. His ability to stretch the defense, protect the rim and offer veteran leadership makes him a high-upside addition. If he stays healthy, his skill set could significantly elevate the Hawks' ceiling and complement Young's dynamic playmaking. Advertisement With both players publicly embracing one another, the new pairing could become a defining partnership in Atlanta's push for contention. Related: Celtics Fans Excited After Jayson Tatum News on Thursday Related: Celtics' Brad Stevens Makes Jaylen Brown Statement After NBA Draft This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 26, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
41 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Celtics in Danger of Losing Another Player After Two Major Trades
Celtics in Danger of Losing Another Player After Two Major Trades originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Boston Celtics have undergone a significant roster transformation in recent days. They first traded All-Defensive guard Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers—receiving Anfernee Simons and future second-round picks in return—before completing a three-team deal that sent Kristaps Porzingis to the Atlanta Hawks while acquiring Georges Niang and another second-round pick. Advertisement These moves were partly driven by a pressing need to reduce salary under the league's second luxury tax apron, especially with Jayson Tatum sidelined by a ruptured Achilles. Both stars played vital roles in the Celtics' 2024 championship run. Porzingis was Boston's starting big man and primary rim protector, while Holiday, a reliable playoff performer and defensive anchor, also earned praise for his sturdy perimeter defense. Boston Celtics center Al Horford (42) and forwards Jayson Tatum (0) and Jaylen Brown (7)© David Butler II-Imagn Images Now, with both veterans gone and Tatum out for much of next season, Boston will look to strengthen its roster ahead of next season. According to NBA Insider Shams Charania via The Pat McAfee Show, more change could be on the horizon for the Celtics, one that could involve 39-year-old veteran Al Horford. The veteran center reportedly has a serious market that could place Boston in danger of losing him. Advertisement 'There's an uncertainty around Boston right now with Jayson Tatum potentially missing all of next season,' Charania said. 'I am told Al Horford has a pretty robust free agent market outside of Boston.' Horford remains a productive and versatile presence, averaging 9.0 points and 6.2 rebounds across 27.6 minutes this past season. His ability to space the floor and provide veteran leadership has value on contending teams. Should the Celtics trade him, they will face a sudden void in both experience and frontcourt depth—especially with Porzingis and Holiday gone and Tatum unavailable. Related: Kristaps Porzingis' Message to Trae Young Turns Heads After Celtics Trade Related: Fans Bracing for Jaylen Brown Trade After Celtics' Posts This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
