The Philadelphia Phillies once again had a strong regular season in 2025. They finished the 2025 season with a 96-66 record and at the top of the National League East standings. However, their playoff run ended up being shorter than they had hoped, as they fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS in four games.
After another disappointing playoff run, the Phillies have responded by making some moves this offseason. They most notably re-signed star power hitter Kyle Schwarber to a five-year, $150 million contract. This was a very important move for the Phillies to make, as Schwarber has been a huge part of their offense since his arrival in Philly.
The Phillies also made a handful of other moves this winter. One of them was re-signing veteran catcher J.T. Realmuto to a three-year, $45 million contract. They also brought some new players to their roster, like Brad Keller, Adolis Garcia, Jonathan Bowlan, and Kyle Backhus.
However, when looking at the Phillies’ current roster, it is fair to argue that they should not be done making moves just yet. They would benefit by adding another starting pitcher to their roster, and they are now being linked to one of the top remaining free agent starters because of it.
Phillies Named Dark-Horse Landing Spot for Free Agent Zack Littell
In a recent article for FanSided, Zachary Rotman discussed likely and dark-horse landing spots for a handful of baseball’s top remaining free agents. Zack Littell was among the players discussed by Rotman, and it makes sense when noting that he is clearly one of the best pitchers still looking for a new home.
When it came to Littell, Rotman named the Phillies as a dark-horse landing spot to watch for the eight-year veteran.
“Littell isn’t the best fit in a hitter-friendly ballpark in Philly, as he can be susceptible to the long ball, but beggars can’t be choosers this time of year. The Phillies need depth, and Littell can provide that at a high level,” Rotman wrote.
When looking at the Phillies’ current pitching situation, it is fair to argue that Littell would have the potential to give them a nice boost. He would be a solid addition to the bottom half of the Phillies’ rotation and would simply give them more pitching depth. This would not be a bad thing at all for a team with high expectations like the Phillies.
Littell is also coming off a solid 2025 season. In 32 games split between the Tampa Bay Rays and Cincinnati Reds, the 6-foot-4 righty had a 10-8 record, a 3.81 ERA, and 130 strikeouts. With numbers like these, he would be a solid addition to the Phillies’ roster.
Littell Should Generate More Interest
When noting that Littell is one of the best pitchers still without a contract, there is certainly a chance that he will generate more interest around the league. Teams are always on the hunt for pitching help, and he would be a good addition for a team in need of another starter. Thus, the Phillies could have competition for his services if they elect to pursue him.
It will be intriguing to see if the Phillies end up landing Littell from here, but the fit definitely looks good on paper.
Phillies Linked to Intriguing 3.81 ERA Free Agent Starter