BALTIMORE — A former American League East rival is joining the Orioles and helping bolster the team’s rotation.
Baltimore acquired right-hander Zach Eflin in a trade with Tampa Bay on Friday, sending three prospects to the Rays in return. Eflin will join fellow right-handers Corbin Burnes and Grayson Rodriguez at the head of the Orioles’ starting rotation, which has lost three pitchers (Kyle Bradish, John Means and Tyler Wells) to season-ending UCL surgery.
Transaction Details
The Orioles: RHP Zach Eflin
Rays: Infielder/outfielder Mack Holbert (No. 10 Orioles prospect), right-hander Jackson Baumeister (No. 17), outfielder Matthew Etzel
Eflin started 31 games in his first season with the Rays in 2023, posting a career-best 3.50 ERA and finishing sixth in Cy Young Award voting as one of the AL’s top starting pitchers. This year, the 30-year-old Eflin has started 19 games with a 4.09 ERA.
The addition of Eflin would also bolster the Orioles’ starting rotation next season, as the right-hander is under contract through 2025. With schedule uncertainty for Bradish, Means and Wells and Barnes set to become a free agent after this season, Eflin should be a needed boost heading into next year.
Eflin has a 4.26 ERA in 177 games (165 starts) over nine MLB seasons, the first seven with the Phillies before signing with the Rays as a free agent ahead of the 2023 season.
The Orioles will be happy to not have to face Eflin, who has a 3.00 ERA and 0.76 WHIP in five starts.
Baltimore bolstered its starting rotation without giving up any top-nine prospects and gave up two 2023 draft picks in Holbert (second round) and Baumeister (competitive balance round B). Baumeister is the only pitcher selected by the Orioles on the first day of the draft since Mike Elias took over as general manager before the 2019 season.
But that may not be the end of the Orioles’ plans. The trade deadline is set for Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET, and the team still needs additions to both its starting and relief pitching staffs, and could be looking for a right-handed hitter after getting rid of Hayes’ contract.
