Zach Eflin is staying put in the AL East but will be in some new threads.
The Tampa Bay Rays reportedly dealt the right-hander to the Baltimore Orioles ahead of Monday’s deadline, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.
In return for Eflin, the Rays reportedly received OF Matthew Etzel, RHP Jackson Baumeister, UTIL Mac Horvath.
Eflin has struggled to get back to his career-best form that helped vault him towards the top of the Rays’ rotation last season. His 16 wins in 2023 tied only Toronto’s Chris Bassit for the most victories in the American League. His 186 punchouts led the Rays and was a career-high.
The 30-year-old heads to AL-East leading Baltimore after two seasons with Tampa Bay and seven campaigns with the Philadelphia Phillies, the latter of which saw him transition into a bullpen role significantly in 2022.
Eflin helped the Phillies advance to the World Series in his final year with the team, making 10 appearances in relief and helping with damage control in high-leverage situations.
Eflin has just five wins in 16 starts this season with his strikeout numbers dropping and ERA ballooning thus far in 2024. Despite being unable to replicate his 2023 form, Eflin can still play a lively role for the 61-41 Orioles during the business end of the MLB season.
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