Zach Eflin traded to Orioles

BALTIMORE — A former American League East rival is coming to the Orioles to help reinforce the club’s rotation.

Baltimore acquired right-hander Zach Eflin in a trade with Tampa Bay on Friday, sending a trio of prospects to the Rays in return. Eflin will join fellow righties Corbin Burnes and Grayson Rodriguez atop an O’s rotation that previously lost three pitchers (Kyle Bradish, John Means and Tyler Wells) to season-ending UCL surgeries.

TRADE DETAILS
Orioles receive: RHP Zach Eflin
Rays receive: INF/OF Mac Horvath (O’s No. 10 prospect), RHP Jackson Baumeister (No. 17), OF Matthew Etzel

Eflin was among the AL’s top starters in 2023, when he finished sixth in Cy Young Award voting after recording a career-best 3.50 ERA over 31 starts in his first season with the Rays. This year, the 30-year-old has a 4.09 ERA through 19 starts.

The addition of Eflin also bolsters the Orioles’ rotation for next season, as the righty is under contract through the end of 2025. Considering the uncertain timelines for Bradish, Means and Wells — and the fact that Burnes is a free agent at the end of this season — Eflin should provide a needed boost for next year.

Eflin owns a 4.26 ERA in 177 career games (165 starts) over nine MLB seasons, the first seven of which were spent with the Phillies. He then signed with the Rays in free agency prior to the 2023 campaign.

The Orioles will be glad to no longer face Eflin, who has a 3.00 ERA and a 0.76 WHIP in five career starts against them.

Baltimore improved its rotation without parting with any of its top nine prospects. It lost a pair of 2023 Draft picks in Horvath (second round) and Baumeister (Competitive Balance Round B). Baumeister is the only pitcher who has been selected by the O’s on the first day of a Draft since Mike Elias became general manager prior to the ‘19 season.

The O’s may not be done, though. The Trade Deadline is set for Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET, and the team could still use pitching help for both its rotation and bullpen. It’s also possible they could seek a right-handed bat after parting with Hays.