The Cincinnati Reds wasted no time bolstering their pitching staff after dealing for third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes earlier on July 30.
Shortly after improving to 57-52 with a 5-2 win over the Dodgers, the Reds pulled off a late-night trade to acquire Tampa Bay Rays starter Zack Littell. In return, they sent two minor-league pitchers to the Rays.
“He’s consistent, throws strikes, and keeps you in the game,” said team president Nick Krall, who watched Littell pitch five scoreless innings against the Yankees on Wednesday before finalizing the trade.
The deal involved right-hander Brian Van Belle—recently acquired from the Red Sox in June and now at Triple-A Louisville—and Class A lefty Adam Serwinowski. Although Serwinowski was immediately flipped to the Dodgers in a separate transaction, the Reds view the Littell move as a straightforward two-team trade.
Littell, a right-hander set to hit free agency after this season, will slot into the Reds’ rotation. As a result, veteran swingman Nick Martinez—who tossed six strong innings against the Dodgers—will transition to the bullpen.
“We explored the relief market, and this move gave us the best of both worlds,” Krall explained. “We added starting depth and strengthened the bullpen by shifting Martinez.”
Krall confirmed the team isn’t planning to use a six-man rotation, especially with Opening Day starter Hunter Greene expected back from a groin injury in August.
Littell, 8-8 with a 3.58 ERA over 22 starts this year, impressed in his final outing with Tampa Bay, allowing just two hits to the Yankees.
With under 19 hours remaining before the trade deadline, Krall hinted the front office might not be done dealing.
“We’ve improved the bullpen and the defense,” he said, referencing the earlier Hayes trade. “You always want to add more if you can. But if this is the group we go forward with, we’re confident and excited.”
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