The Orioles have reunited with Zach Eflin, as USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reports that Baltimore has signed the right-hander to a one-year, $10MM deal with a mutual option for the 2027 season. Eflin is represented by O’Connell Sports Management.
The $10MM guarantee breaks down as a $5MM salary, a $3MM signing bonus, and then a $2MM buyout on the mutual option. As a reminder, mutual options are virtually never exercised by both parties, so Eflin’s deal is for all intents and purposes just a one-year pact. There is some significant bonus money involved, as both Eflin’s buyout and option will increase by $1MM if he makes at least 15 starts, then by $1.5MM if he makes at 20 starts, and one final increase of $2.5MM if he hits the 25-start threshold. The mutual option’s buyout can therefore max out at $7MM.
Baltimore has been linked to several top-tier free agent pitchers this winter, and the O’s also just swung a notable trade to land a hurler with frontline potential in Shane Baz. The 32-year-old Eflin might settle into the back of the rotation, especially given his uncertain injury status. Eflin underwent a back surgery in August that came with a rather broad recovery timeline of 4-8 months, so the fact that he has now signed a contract after four months perhaps hints that his rehab is going quite smoothly.
It would be a welcome relief for both Eflin and the Orioles if he is able to pitch normally during Spring Training and be available for the Opening Day roster. Assuming Eflin is ready to go by March 26, he’ll slot in as the fourth or fifth starter in a projected rotation that includes Trevor Rogers, Kyle Bradish, Dean Kremer, and Baz. Tyler Wells had a line on a rotation spot but could take on a bullpen or a swingman role. Albert Suarez is another swingman candidate, plus Cade Povich, Chayce McDermott, and Brandon Young are further rotation depth options in the upper minors.
If Baltimore still wanted to make a splash by signing or trading for more of a proven ace, the Eflin signing likely isn’t an obstacle. Given how many injuries the Orioles rotation suffered in 2025, it is no surprise that the team wants as much depth as possible to both cover innings and deliver quality results going forward.
Eflin’s own injury woes contributed to the Orioles’ health problems, as lat and back injuries resulted in three separate stints on the injured list for the righty last year. Eflin was limited to just 71 1/3 innings over 14 starts, and he struggled to a 5.93 ERA and a 16.2% strikeout rate. The righty’s 4.2% walk rate was still excellent, however, and since a lot of the damage off Eflin came via a spike in his homer rate, his 4.49 SIERA was more respectable than his real-world ERA.
This isn’t the first time Eflin was plagued by injuries, as persistent knee issues bothered the right-hander earlier in his career with the Phillies, though he posted solid results when healthy. In what counted as a significant outlay for the low-budget Rays, Tampa Bay inked Eflin to a three-year, $40MM contract during the 2022-23 offseason, and he ended up delivering the highest two innings totals of his career over the first two seasons of the deal — 177 2/3 IP in 2023, 165 1/3 IP in 2024.
The durability was backed up by a 3.54 ERA, 3.5% walk rate, and 23.1% strikeout rate over those 343 innings, though Eflin’s K% dropped off considerably from 26.5% in 2023 to 19.6% in 2024. Since the Rays are always looking to trim the budget and reload with younger talent, Tampa dealt Eflin to the Orioles at the 2024 deadline, with the O’s absorbing all of the money remaining on Eflin’s $11MM salary for the 2024 season and his $18MM salary for 2025. While his 2025 campaign was a wash, Eflin did pitch well down the stretch for the Orioles in 2024 to help the team reach the postseason.
Tampa Bay was the only team publicly linked to Eflin’s market this winter, but he’ll now instead return to one of his other former teams in his attempt at a rebound season. The Orioles know better than any other club about the right-hander’s health situation, and the upside is obvious if Eflin can return to his old form. At the time of his season-ending surgery, Eflin was also quite vocal about his desire to return to Batlimore in free agency, and now his wish has come true.
Eflin’s $10MM commitment brings the Orioles’ 2026 payroll up to roughly $147.3MM, as per RosterResource. Since the O’s finished the 2025 campaign with a payroll of approximately $160.1MM, there’s still more room to spend for a team that already made one of the winter’s blockbuster signings in the Pete Alonso contract. Baltimore could further spend on a free agent starter like Ranger Suarez or Framber Valdez, or perhaps again tip into its minor league depth for another significant trade.
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale was the first to break the news on Eflin’s one-year pact with the Orioles. The New York Post’s Jon Heyman had the $10MM guaranteed, and Andy Kostka of the Baltimore Banner reported that the detail of the mutual option. FanSided’s Robert Murray had the salary breakdown and the information about the bonus structure.
Inset photo courtesy of Gregory Fisher — Imagn Images
Considering he’s coming off the worst year of his career, I suppose there’s reasonable hope for a bounce back season.
When healthy he is a good starting pitcher. That will solidify the Orioles rotation and push Baz or Wells out. That is a good place for the team to be.
I’m sorry, what? Baz? The guy we just traded four prospects and a top pick for?
They just thought it was a cute idea to trade with their buddies in Tampa. Nobody actually thought he would pitch for them right???
Dean Kremer apparently has a higher upside than Baz and Wells. Maybe Povich before those two/s
Baz, of course, is the three. But, yeah, this is just a good depth move. Provided this has no affect on their ability to land a top free agent pitcher, I like this.
LOL….Baz has a rotation spot, dude. Follow baseball much?
Orioles are goin’ for it!!!
You know it’s Eflin, not Framber…right?
Framber or Imai are goin’ to the Mutts.
The Orioles make the strangest decisions
Goku – not at all. Eflin is a capable mid-rotation starter due for better health. Obvious is obvious.
True. He led the AL in wins just 3 seasons ago. He hasn’t been healthy for past 2. Good depth signing. But need one of the big names out there or make a trade. Mountcastle and Mayo need to be traded
$20m incoming
Gotta be half that…
Good signing. I still love him from his Philly days. He’s always good as long as he’s healthy.
Wanted him back in San Diego, good signing Baltimore!
He will miss the first month or two of season recovering from the back surgery
There’s a chance he could be back sooner… but I’d wager at him missing a couple weeks.
Maybe not! “Eflin underwent a back surgery in August that came with a rather broad recovery timeline of 4-8 months, so the fact that he has now signed a contract after four months perhaps hints that his rehab is going quite smoothly.”
Orioles aren’t Eflin around
Figures..cause he’s stinks!
I’m getting Kyle Gibson-esque deja vu feelings…
Nothing against Eflin, but please tell me this isn’t the final piece for the starting rotation?!? The Orioles still need a front line SP. I like both Baz and Eflin, but this still doesn’t make this starting rotation a post season rotation.
Nah, still looking for that TOR arm
Need Ranger Suarez
That would be awesome, hope they will sign him (Ranger Suarez)
Ranger Suarez was awesome in May-June but had a rough July-August-September.
Velocity was down about 3 mph.
At the salary he is looking for, with concerning stats and velocity, I’d pass if I were a GM
Signing the papers and re-signing the trash
Gonna take $10 million in spendin’ cash
If you don’t end on the division floor
You ain’t gonna want Zach Eflin no more
Yakety yak (don’t take him back)
Imai is next!!!!!!
Our shared delusion and dream. I wish brother.
I actually like this move. Was hoping for a reunion.
Another depth move. Not bad.
As long we still get a TOR arm. If this is our top 5, then it will be a repeat of last year, just more homers.
I have never understood the point of a mutual option.
Basically, it’s a deferral. Puts a little money off for a year. Hey, you gotta count the dollars unless you’re the Dodgers. Oh, wait a minute. The Dodgers have done a few deferrals, I hear.
If he gets back to anything like 2024, it will be money well spent. And even if he doesn’t, it’s a one-year deal. And there’s no such thing as a bad…well, you know.
There are no bad one year contracts, but a million dollar bonus for starting 15 games sets the expectations at less than half a season.
The O’s are guessing there’s at least half a season where the Elf is on the shelf.
Still hoping they add Suarez or Imai. Nice to see Eflin back. He was a lock for a win for the Os in 2024.
Good move by the O’s. Feel like they still aren’t done.
Young almost threw a perfect game against us. Scary!!!
Either way, O’s are filling in the rotation.
With Eflin now re-signed with the Orioles, I gotta a feeling that Ranger Suarez will sign with the Orioles. The O’s probably need another lefty pitcher in that rotation. Kremer is looking like a middle reliever now
This move is horrible if it’s their final rotation add. It’s a decent bounce back candidate for the back of the rotation if they still add a top starter.