Two Underrated Starting Pitchers That Remain Unsigned

Don't sleep on these two arms.

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Zack Littell (52) circles back to the mound between pitches in the third inning of the MLB National League Wild Card Game 2 between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025. The Reds were eliminated from the postseason with an 8-4 loss to the reining World Series Champions La Dodgers. | Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Free agency is down to just a few viable options still left on the market. Most of the big names have already signed, and with spring training underway, it's only a matter of time before some lower-cost options find new homes or potentially sign minor league contracts.

Options are slim. The biggest names still out there are Lucas Giolito and Max Scherzer, but there are still a few underrated options that haven't been signed just yet.

Here are two starting pitchers that could be sneaky additions for teams looking for help at the back end of their rotations for 2026.

Marcus Stroman

Jul 20, 2025; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Marcus Stroman (0) pitches against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Stroman is another arm that hasn't quite been himself over the past few years, but he does have a track record. He's a two-time All-Star and former Gold Glove winner.

The 35-year-old spent 2024 and 2025 with the New York Yankees, and while he was at least serviceable his first year in the Bronx, the same can't be said for 2025. He was limited to nine starts due to injuries and went 3-2 with a 6.23 ERA.

But pitching injuries tend to happen in spring training, and when a team needs a starter, he could be a perfect option for depth at the back end of a rotation. He was once a Cy Young candidate as well with the Toronto Blue Jays, so there might still be some upside.

We'll see if any contenders take a chance on him, but he isn't completely a lost cause just yet. It would simply take a one-year deal to land him.

Zack Littell

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Zack Littell (52) throws a pitch in the first inning of the MLB National League Wild Card Game 2 between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025. The Reds were eliminated from the postseason with an 8-4 loss to the reining World Series Champions La Dodgers. | Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Zack Littell started the year with the Tampa Bay Rays before being traded to the Cincinnati Reds and helping them get to the postseason. He'll only be a one-year commitment most likely, but he's a viable back-end arm that would make sense for a lot of teams, even those just looking to fill holes.

He went 10-8 with a 3.81 ERA in 32 starts last year. He also pitched 186 2/3 innings.

Littell isn't an ace, but he is someone that could help a team plug a hole before the season starts. He can take the ball every fifth day and provide quality innings. He makes sense for a lot of teams and is still a viable arm. If he ends up with a non-contender, he could be a trade candidate at the deadline.

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