The Rays placed Littell on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with right shoulder fatigue, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Littell last pitched Monday and gave up two runs while recording just one out in a 6-4 win over the Blue Jays. It's not clear how long he might be sidelined.
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Rays' Zack Littell: Claimed by Tampa Bay
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Littell was claimed off waivers by the Rays on Friday, Julian McWilliams of The Boston Globe reports.
Littell was designated for assignment by the Red Sox earlier this week and will wind up remaining in the American League East. The reliever is out of options, so he'll join the major-league roster. It's not clear yet what the Rays' corresponding move will be.
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Red Sox's Zack Littell: Loses 40-man spot
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The Red Sox designated Littell for assignment Wednesday, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.
Littell has lost his roster spot to James Paxton (hamstring), who was activated from the 15-day injured list in advance of his season debut Friday versus the Cardinals. The 27-year-old allowed three earned runs in three innings (two relief appearances) during his brief stay with Boston.
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Red Sox's Zack Littell: Traded to Boston
Rotowire
Littell was acquired by the Red Sox from the Rangers on Friday in exchange for cash considerations, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
Littell has posted a 2.25 ERA and 16:2 K:BB over 12 innings this season at the Triple-A level. He'll report to Triple-A Worcester for now but could get a look with the big club before long.
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Red Sox's Zack Littell: Active in big-league bullpen
Rotowire
Littell's contract was selected from Triple-A Worcester on Saturday, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.
The 27-year-old righty had a 3.82 ERA and 102 strikeouts in 106 innings for the Giants from 2021 through 2022, but he'd been working as a Triple-A reliever for the Rangers prior to getting shipped to Boston for cash. Littell should work in low-leverage spots.
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Rangers' Zack Littell: Signs minor-league deal
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Littell signed a minor-league contract with the Rangers on Thursday, Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.com reports.
Littell will be in big-league camp as a non-roster invitee. The 27-year-old was highly effective out of the Giants' bullpen in 2021 before stumbling to a 5.08 ERA in 2022. He should have a decent chance to win a middle-relief role in Texas.
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Giants' Zack Littell: Loses spot on 40-man roster
Rotowire
Littell was outrighted to Triple-A Sacramento on Wednesday.
Littell was sent down in mid-September and will lose his spot on the team's 40-man roster now that the offseason has begun. It's possible that he serves as a non-roster invitee this spring.
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Giants' Zack Littell: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
Littell was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento on Tuesday.
After giving up two earned runs over two-thirds of an inning and being visibly upset when he was pulled from Monday's victory over Atlanta, Littell is headed for the minor leagues. Thomas Szapucki was recalled from Triple-A in a corresponding move.
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Giants' Zack Littell: Picks up third win
Rotowire
Littell (3-3) earned the win Sunday over the Cubs, allowed two hits and striking out two over 1.2 scoreless innings without walking a batter.
Littell was in the game when Thairo Estrada's solo home run in the seventh inning put the Giants ahead. Through five outings in September, Littell's allowed four runs in five innings, though those all came in one outing against the Dodgers on Wednesday. The right-hander has posted a 4.74 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 39:12 K:BB through 43.2 innings overall in a low-leverage role.
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Giants' Zack Littell: Handed loss Wednesday
Rotowire
Littell (2-3) allowed four runs on three hits and two walks with two strikeouts in 1.1 innings, taking the loss Wednesday versus the Dodgers.
Littell gave up the go-ahead run on an RBI double to Trea Turner, then yielded a three-run home run to Max Muncy. Littell hadn't given up more than one run in any of his previous nine appearances since returning from an oblique injury in August. The ugly outing Wednesday lifted his season ERA to 5.01 with a 1.33 WHIP, 36:12 K:BB, one save and four holds through 41.1 innings.
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Giants' Zack Littell: Grabs win Saturday
Rotowire
Littell (2-2) earned the win Saturday over the Phillies, retiring the only batter he faced in the contest.
Littell was in the right place at the right time for the win. Scott Alexander allowed the Phillies to tie the score in the sixth inning, but Littell stranded Jean Segura on second base and the Giants retook the lead in their half of the frame. Since returning from an oblique injury, Littell has given up two runs across 8.2 innings through eight appearances, adding one save and one hold in that span. He's posted a 4.38 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 34:10 K:BB through 39 innings overall, mainly serving in a middle-relief role.
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Giants' Zack Littell: Picks up first save
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Littell pitched a perfect 11th inning to earn the save in Sunday's 9-8 win over the Rockies.
Littell was the seventh reliever the Giants deployed in this contest, and he was able to lock things down after Wilmer Flores' sacrifice fly put them ahead in the top of the 11th. Littell has covered three scoreless innings in two appearances since returning from an oblique injury Wednesday. He has a 4.59 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 30:8 K:BB across 33.1 innings this year, though he's added only one save and three holds as more of a low-leverage reliever. As such, he shouldn't be considered likely to see many additional save chances.
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Giants' Zack Littell: Reinstated from 15-day IL
Rotowire
Littell (oblique) was reinstated from the 15-day injured list Wednesday.
Littell sustained a left oblique strain in early July and spent just over a month on the injured list, but he was in the minors on a rehab assignment for two and a half weeks. The right-hander posted a 4.05 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in 6.2 innings over seven rehab appearances and will rejoin the Giants' bullpen ahead of Wednesday's game against the Diamondbacks.
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Giants' Zack Littell: Rehab moves to Triple-A
Rotowire
Littell's (oblique) rehab assignment was transferred from Single-A San Jose to Triple-A Sacramento on Wednesday.
Across those two levels of the minors, Littell has allowed three hits and a walk while striking out three in four scoreless innings through four rehab appearances. Given the results so far, the right-hander doesn't seem too far away from rejoining the Giants.
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Giants' Zack Littell: Rehab assignment on tap
Rotowire
Littell (oblique) will begin a rehab assignment at Single-A San Jose on Friday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Littell has been on the injured list since early July due to his left oblique strain but is closing in on a return. It's not yet clear how many rehab appearances the right-hander will require before he's able to rejoin the Giants' bullpen, but it's possible that he'll be activated as early as next week.
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Giants' Zack Littell: Out with strained oblique
Rotowire
Littell landed on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a left oblique strain, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
Littell was recalled Thursday and walked four batters in 1.1 innings of relief against the Padres the next day. Those command issues now look like they were injury-related. It's not yet clear how much time he's expected to miss.
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Giants' Zack Littell: Returns to San Francisco
Rotowire
Littell was recalled by the Giants on Thursday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Jose Alvarez (elbow) was placed on the injured list, creating a need in the bullpen. Littell will fill that void, and he's managed a 4.97 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 25:3 K:BB across 29 innings with the Giants on the season.
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Giants' Zack Littell: Sent to Triple-A
Rotowire
Littell was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento on Friday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
Littell pitched Thursday against Atlanta and allowed one run over three innings, and he'll head to the minors in favor of a fresh bullpen arm. The 26-year-old has a 4.97 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 25:3 K:BB across 29 major-league innings this season.
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Giants' Zack Littell: Scoreless streak ends
Rotowire
Littell allowed two runs on a hit and a hit batter in one inning during Tuesday's 12-10 win over Atlanta.
Littell hit Michael Harris with a pitch and then surrendered a two-run home run to Ronald Acuna in the fourth inning. That briefly gave Atlanta the lead, but San Francisco pulled ahead in the sixth and held on from there to spare Littell a loss. He's given up four runs in his last 10.1 innings, and he's still looking a little shaky with a 5.19 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 22:3 K:BB across 26 innings overall. The right-hander has added a 1-2 record and three holds, but with six homers allowed, he'll need to work on keeping the ball in the yard to find more success.
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Giants' Zack Littell: Handed loss Tuesday
Rotowire
Littell (1-2) allowed two runs on two hits in one-third of an inning, taking the loss Tuesday versus the Rockies.
Littell allowed consecutive singles to Jose Iglesias and Randal Grichuk before getting an out. Charlie Blackmon then entered as a pinch hitter for the Rockies, and manager Gabe Kapler responded with Jose Alvarez, who promptly allowed both inherited runners from Littell to score on a home run. Prior to Tuesday, the right-hander had pitched 5.2 scoreless innings in his last four appearances. He's now at a 5.40 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 19:2 K:BB in 21.2 innings overall.
