BREAKING: Orioles Acquire Veteran Starter To Bolster Rotation
In an intra-division deal, the Baltimore Orioles acquired starting pitcher Zach Eflin from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for three minor leaguers, the team announced on Friday. The Rays received outfielder Matthew Etzel, super-utilityman Mac Horvath, and right-handed pitcher Jackson Baumeister in return for Eflin. This trade marks the second deal the Orioles made on Friday, following their transaction with the Philadelphia Phillies that landed them Seranthony Dominguez and Cristian Pache.
Orioles Trade for Veteran Zach Eflin To Boost Starting Rotation
Zach Eflin is currently in the second year of a three-year, $40 million deal, making him the Tampa Bay Rays’ most expensive outside free agent signing ever. The 30-year-old pitcher has a 4.09 ERA, which is below his career average, in 19 starts this season. In July, Eflin’s ERA rose to 4.76, and he missed time twice this season due to injuries, including low back tightness in April and lower back inflammation in May. Eflin has recorded 87 strikeouts in 110 innings while allowing just 13 walks and maintaining a 1.164 WHIP. His ERA+ is 95, slightly below the league average of 100.
We have made the following trade: pic.twitter.com/u7MmvIReDV
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) July 26, 2024
Before the 2024 season, Eflin led all of baseball with 16 wins in 2023, posting a career-best 3.50 ERA. He has pitched over 100 innings in five of his nine MLB seasons, including the current one. Eflin spent his first seven years with the Philadelphia Phillies, where he recorded a 4.49 ERA in 115 starts and played a pivotal role in Philadelphia’s 2022 World Series run, pitching the last out of the Phillies’ playoff-clinching victory over the Houston Astros.
Zach Eflin, K'ing the Side. pic.twitter.com/9bVOLMoggs
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 20, 2024
Eflin fits well into Baltimore’s current rotation, joining Corbin Burnes, Grayson Rodriguez, and Dean Kremer. The Orioles already have the eighth-best team ERA in baseball and the fourth-best in the American League at 3.73. Baltimore has experienced numerous pitching injuries in 2024, with Kyle Bradish and John Means out for the year. To make room for Eflin on the Orioles’ 40-man roster, reliever Vinny Nittoli was designated for assignment.
Rays Get Back Three Prospects In Eflin Trade
#orioles also announce Vinny Nittoli DFA'd. Seranthony Dominguez will wear No. 56. He's reported. OF Cristian Pache also reported and is wearing No. 26.
— Roch Kubatko (@masnRoch) July 26, 2024
The Rays received three prospects in exchange for Eflin. Horvath is ranked as Baltimore’s 10th-best prospect by MLB.com. He had a .232 batting average in High-A with the Orioles and posted a .745 OPS with nine home runs. Baumeister, who is the Orioles’ 17th-ranked prospect, was a 2023 draft pick. The 22-year-old recorded a 3.06 ERA in High-A this season over 70⅔ innings but has struggled with control, issuing 43 walks. However, he has been impressive in strikeouts, accumulating 91 in 2024. Etzel completes the trade for Tampa Bay. A 10th-round pick in 2023, Etzel hit .289 across two levels in the Orioles’ system this year, including 32 games at the Double-A level, the highest level of the three players the Rays acquired.