Littell is coming off an up-and-down season. Before being traded to the Cincinnati Reds at the deadline, he posted a respectable 3.58 ERA across 133.1 innings with the Tampa Bay Rays. Over 53.1 innings in Cincinnati, however, that number ballooned to 4.39.
During his time with the Reds, Littell leaned more heavily on his four-seam fastball and sinker while moving away from his splitter. From July to August, his four-seamer usage jumped 7.1 percent as his splitter usage dropped 7.5 percent, a shift that coincided with his worst month of the season, when he recorded a 4.91 ERA. A return to heavier splitter usage could be the key to rediscovering his effectiveness, and if so, Littell could profile as a valuable innings-eater for the Padres.
As for Martinez, he revived his major league career in San Diego. His sinker–changeup combination served as his bread and butter, and it consistently produced results. Even entering his age-36 season, Martinez has shown no decline in velocity, making him an attractive and familiar option as a middle-of-the-rotation arm.
The approach of pursuing Littell or Martinez allows San Diego to address another pressing need: right-handed power in the middle of the lineup. Eugenio Suárez or Marcell Ozuna could be realistic fits on short-term deals with opt-outs, adding much-needed pop while preserving roster flexibility.
Final Thoughts
It could still be a while before Darvish makes his life-altering decision. It would obviously benefit the Padres if he were to decide sooner rather than later and choose to void most or all of his contract.
In an interview with Kevin Acee on Foul Territory, Acee said the team has unofficially budgeted the $15 million Darvish would be owed this season if he were to retire. Does that mean A.J. Preller is operating under the assumption that he’ll have more money to spend? It’s hard to say.
As stated earlier, it would be ideal for the Padres to address both of their needs — adding a starting pitcher and a bat — but landing a true front-line starter would be a significant win on its own.