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Athletics predicted to sign $39 million 3.81 ERA pitcher to create 1-2 punch with Luis Severino originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Athletics have been decently active this offseason, but more so with in-house work than free agency or trades. They locked down offensive pieces in Tyler Soderstrom and Jacob Wilson, but if they want to be a Wild Card team, they need to upgrade their pitching.
Fansided’s Christopher Kline predicts the A’s will find their pitching in Zack Littell, a veteran who gets the job done, and won’t be expensive.
MORE: Cubs predicted to part ways with $35 million two-time Gold Glove infielder as consequence of possible Pete Crow-Armstrong extension
"Zack Littell made 32 starts and pitched 186.2 innings last season, which is valuable in and of itself. He wasn't half bad either, posting a 3.81 ERA and 1.11 WHIP with 130 strikeouts. He is more of a pitch-to-contact guy than A's fans might like, especially at Sutter Health Park, but Littell knows how to command the zone and he can typically limit explosive damage…Littell can take the bump every fifth game and not be a disaster, which for this A's team is a serious step in the right direction. He's only 30, theoretically still in his prime, but this protracted free agent saga could allow the A's to sign Littell on the cheap,” Kline wrote.
This past season, Littell posted a 10-8 record, a 3.81 ERA, 130 Ks, and a WHIP of 1.104 over 186 innings pitched. Have him anchor the Luis Severino-led rotation, and the A’s might have an irregular 1-2 punch on their hands.
MORE: Cubs predicted to cut ties with $85 million 32 HR slugger due to possible Pete Crow-Armstrong extension
As for a contract, Littell was already projected to receive a meager three-year, $39 million deal, but as Kline mentions, the fact Opening Day is almost here is certainly going to lower Littell’s price.
Hopefully, it does and the A’s can land him, as it could be an underrated move to create a sneaky playoff team.
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