The Orioles have reunited with Zach Eflin on a one-year, $10MM deal with a mutual option for the 2027 season. The team has officially announced the signing, and designated outfielder Will Robertson for assignment in a corresponding move to create room on the 40-man roster. 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 smoothly.
The Baltimore Sun’s Matt Weyrich hears from a source that the Orioles are hoping Eflin can “make his season debut early in the year,” with his ramp-up process starting “early in Spring Training.” Once Eflin is ready, 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 might move into a bullpen or swingman role once Eflin returns. 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 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.
Well when the O’s got him in ‘24 he was often electric. If they get that guy, that could could work out very nicely.
Only struggled because of injury. He’s a high quality arm!
Now just bring in Suarez and it’s a great off season.
Geno or Ranger or Robert (went to the Braves) ???
Ranger obvs
Thx
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???
No way. Kremer has no upside he’s a solid 4th/5th starter
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.
Baz has a very real shot of being your #1.
LOL….Baz has a rotation spot, dude. Follow baseball much?
His ERA was high so he must be bad, right? /s
0.4 WAR points to him stink in’
Baz’s 2.2 WAR in 2024 in only 14 starts was 33rd in MLB. smh
Why would he push Baz out? Bradish, Rogers, Baz, Kremer, Eflin. It pushes Povich back(and maybe out) and sets Wells into the bullpen.
Baz would have to pitch himself out of the rotation.
Definitely not pushing Baz out especially with what they just gave up for him
Orioles are goin’ for it!!!
You know it’s Eflin, not Framber…right?
Framber or Imai are goin’ to the Mutts.
Framber can go anywhere he wants, but Imai is gonna be an Oriole until he’s not.
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
But they do make the strangest decisions. Like tendering Mountcastle a contract.
I’m really hope that a top of the rotation signing will really solidify the Baz and Eflin rotation positions. Imai would have the most long-term upside. and theoretically they could have three or four pitchers vie for the number one. fromber or Ranger would be more of a traditional number one.
There are two decisions that I have never been able to understand. 1/ letting Danny Coulombe go and 2/ tendering Mounty this year.
Ranger Suarez is not a #1 starter. He’s a solid #3 I guess. He’s a soft tosser who doesn’t go long. Almost a five and diver.
Eflin has had so many injuries pile up over the seasons. His knees are a chronic issue and now he has a back thing. Lucky if they get 50 innings out of him next season.
The Mountcastle tender was a $1.5MM insurance policy in case they didn’t sign a MOO like Alonso
Nope, ignorant, Eflin had back surgery to fix his back problems and the knee problem was probably tied to the bulging disc.
He is not a five and dive pitcher. Ranger threw 6 innings or more in 18 of 24 starts last year. 8 of those 18, he went 7 or more innings.
His tender is $6.5m for 2026. Not $1.5. A strange signing
I like both Mountcastle and Eflin signings. A healthy Eflin is a low risk addition. He could be a nice 3/4 in the rotation.
Bradish
Rogers
Baz
Eflin
Kremer
They can move Wells to the bullpen, and have nice depth on the farm with McDermott, Povich and Young.
it’s a projected salary based on arbitration and I assure you the O’s will go low on the number they submit, especially now. Mountcastle should just accept it honestly.. he has very low leverage. The O’s can cut him even after the hearing and only pay 15% I believe of the settled contract figure. That’s where the ~$1.5m is being generated from. The lower the salary the better chance he has at keeping it whether on the O’s or in a trade. This happened to JD Davis a few years ago. So OG commenter is correct in saying it’s a $1.5m insurance policy.
Huh? This was complete logic from the start. Wish it was a two year deal but I’m sure he’s hoping to cash in on a healthy year.
You sound unfamiliar with MLB rules regarding waiving players in ST.
Who is unfamiliar and how so? So far, things are panning out how I’d expect. O’s did offer a number lower than his projected and he did accept. He knows he has no leverage. The cheaper he is, the better chance he has at being on a 26 man roster. What i don’t know for sure is if they can cut him now and only pay a fraction of the salary, since they agreed to terms rather than it being settled in an arbitration hearing. If you know, please inform
Bird4life: gr81t2 is unfamiliar with how this works. If they release Mountcastle before the end of ST, it’s only 1.5MM,
I was editing this when one of the MLBTR ads took over and hijacked me to a scammy Norton ad. I need to research whether this is still valid with the new 2-year contraact. I have a feeling they are on the hook now for all of his 2026 salary.
Yeah I’m glad I came back to this post and see you’re wondering the same thing as me. I try not speaking with conviction unless I’m absolutely sure and this one now has me puzzled. Where would you even go to research it?
$20m incoming
Gotta be half that…
Exactly half, it turns out.
Gwnning is Gwynner.
Well 1/2 that if he makes under 15 starts or 1/2 the season. Tack on $5 mil if he makes 20, and should things go perfectly tack on another $5 for 25 starts.
That latter total would include a $7 mil buyout on the mutual option so we’ll see what that $ number is but it’s a mutual so…
Another more solid top end guy with perhaps less injury risk than many of the other rotation options would help. Guess we’ll see.
Gwynning you’re spot on, as usual.
Even a blind squirrel finds a nut sometimes! 🤙🏽🍻
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.”
Maybe but backs are tricky.
@Simm – So are women but we keep taking chances on them, hoping at least one will stick in the rotation.
Some girls are bigger than others, and some girls mothers are bigger than other girls mothers.
You have zero info, O’sfan, to declare he will miss any time, no less a “month or two.” You are not an insider. I bet Elias is intimate with his medicals and is expecting him to be ready for ST. He may have already begun throwing, which you would have no way of knowing. He may start the year in the rotation or never throw another pitch in MLB again, though I doubt Elias would have signed him if he thought that were likely. “The Baltimore Sun’s Matt Weyrich hears from a source that the Orioles are hoping Eflin can “make his season debut early in the year,” with his ramp-up process starting “early in Spring Training.””
Orioles aren’t Eflin around
Figures..cause he’s stinks!
He is Eflin. You must be thinking of someone else.
You know what? You stink! (got em)
I’m getting Kyle Gibson-esque deja vu feelings…
No, Assumes. Eflin isn’t 37. And Gibson didn’t just get a bulging disc repaired before the 2025 season. Awful attempt at a comparison/
Bless your heart, your cherry picking’ can’t see the forest for the trees critical little heart!
If you aren’t trolling, you’re stupid. Either way, you are dead wrong..
Double bless your heart kalki, a feeling can’t be dead wrong, sooooo? Bless your little misled overly critical name calling heart…happy new year!!!
So you admit to be stupid. Got it.
What you are dead wrong about is your claim of “cherry picking” with regards to my factually post about the age difference and the surgery. You’re clearly too stupid to understand the meaning of the term “cherry-picking” yet insist on incorrectly using it.
That is the very definition of cherry picking kalki, you pick two differences, can’t understand that is cherry picking and then call me stupid three times…bless your heart big K, may you and your family have an awesome 2026….lighten up a bit
You offer nothing. You act like a child. And I proved your comparison was shtty so you cry about it. Providing crucial facts is not what “cherry picking” is.
Facts vs feelings, oh great critical name calling cherry picker I bow to your ad hominem attacks and admit defeat! You win by noting that Eflin isnt 37, who knew? And Gibson didn’t just get a bulging disc repaired before the 2025 season, definitely an important point fer sher! Awful awful awful awful awful, I beg forgiveness and a reprieve from your lordship please grant me this favor!!! I shan’t express my feelings again…
About time you admit defeat – you offered nothing in your purported comparison of these two unalike pitchers, just saying idiotic stuff for attention, like a tween boy.
The great and mighty kalki had spoken! All bow and pay homage to the omniscient commentator who can identify differences between two players and be hypercritical at the same time, must be mucho fun at parties as well. Hopefully he won’t turn into a 30s something pitcher slightly past his prime signed to a one year deal, but things could go worse for mighty mighty omniscient kalki…stay tuned
That’s ridiculous – guy has been solid his whole career – one injury hit season. Plus he’s 32 not 37.
Assumes is a known troll. Report and mute.
Lmao…bless your heart! I think your trollometer is busted being so close to you tbh…Happy New Year frenemy WB, HNY!
You should not only report me (for what?) but call the cops and write your congressperson too WB…full assault please!!!
@tuckie tuck tuck…it’s ridiculous to feel like Eflin’s time with the Orioles will be similar to Gibson’s time with the Orioles? specifically Gibson’s 2023 season with the O’s with his 0.7 bWAR, 15-9, 4.73ERA? doesn’t seem ridiculous to me, but whatever…
Thanks for pointing out the currents ages of both Eflin and Gibson, that’s was super informative, helpful, etc.
Happy New Year tuckie tuck tuck…let’s resolve to disagree without ridiculous characterizations in 2026, bless your heart…
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
No thank you on Ranger Suárez. I don’t know when a 150 IP guy became a TOR starter but he’s not it. Declining velocity mid rotation guy.
I’ll bet Eflin and Suarez’s numbers look closer than you’d think at seasons end.
Over the last four seasons 30 pitchers had more IP than Suarez, 30.
Over the last four seasons he ranks 19th in fWAR for SPs. He gets outs with his breaking and off speed stuff…
Velo down, command and results up. I’ll take the production over the radar gun.
I’ll take a pass on giving $100MM to the soft tossing lefty.
I’ll be happy not holding the bag once he hits the Kyle Hendricks decline.
I think a Gallen signing would be a better fit.
Gallen looks like toast and will cost the team’s 3rd overall pick because of the QO attached. And reports are he wants a 5-year contract! lmao! Terrible fit, imo.
Gallen on a 5 year deal would be a disaster. I see nothing in the pitch data that makes him a better bet than Dean Kremer.
Gallen’s Savant page makes Kremer’s look like a TOR.
The way Rubenstein and Elias have spoken about payroll and their intentions to build a bonafide WS contender, and with Eflin likely slated to start the year on the IL, I do still expect another quality starter to be added to the opening day rotation.
Someone will inevitably miss time for something in the first half and having a generally dependable guy like Eflin available as pre-deadline, in house backup is pretty great.
King- yeah I agree.
Money doesn’t seem like it’s an issue. Plus I think Elias may have his job on the line. So I expect they will continue to add this offseason.
I want them to sign Suarez but anyone that says they don’t have front line starters already just isn’t paying attention.
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)
The amount of time put into making this silly comment was wasted.
Imai is next!!!!!!
Our shared delusion and dream. I wish brother.
He only has 5 more days left in his posting period – it’s up on Friday, so we will know one way or another soon.
Verlander is next!
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.
I was thinking the same thing about mutual options. wonder what the last mutual option that was picked up?
The Rockies agreed to a mutual option with Matt Belisle for 2014, and the Rockies agreed to a mutual option with Jason Giambi for 2012.
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.
He is likely to open the season on the IL recovering from surgery.
He MIGHT start on the IL. We have no info on whether he has begun throwing. It has been reported he is expected to be throwing to start ST.
There is a $2.5MM bonus for 25 starts, which negates your assumption, Toasters. The expectation is that he will be pitching in ST and will be on the big squad “early in the season,” according to a source with the team, Matt Weyrich reports.
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.
I do too, but Tyler Wells is pretty underrated and looked better than ever during his brief return from TJS last year, so part of me wants to actually give him a shot at a rotation spot next year, and Eflin coming back in like May or June could provide enough insurance to try that in the early part of the season.
We don’t have any idea of Eflin’s return to MLB. He may start the year in the rotation or never pitch again. But Elias knows the medicals and there is no reason why bonuses for 25 starts would be included in the contract of both sides didn’t think it was a reasonable expectation.
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.
Zoinks?! So they’re done FA shopping then? Either they are projecting a whole bunch of improvements on these guys numbers (& no regression for Rogers) or they have a trade up their sleeves. The offence is looking good but to have no ace, well that rarely leads to a playoff spot.
We might be done adding via free agency, but I do not believe we are done adding.
Minor correction that only a beat writer would know: the Orioles have given up on making McDermott a starter; too erratic over more than a couple IPs. So I’m ok with Zach coming back as backend depth rather than counting on Povich or Young.
Another starter with injury issues that underperformed last year. But Grayson was a problem? Got it.
If they signed Elfin, never traded for Baz and signed a real starter I would’ve been ok with this but it just goes to show how un-serious they are. I’m sick of them building the rotation from the bottom up. FFS just once sign a bonafide guy for the top of the rotation.
Grayson is never going to be healthy. Unfortunately, he’s a child who refused to listen to team doctors about rehabbing and missed a whole season with minor injuries. He’s shiny trash
LOFL, all injuries are the same! Depth is bad!
I wonder how some people watch the game without grunting like apes.
In a world where they don’t sign the #1 starter they still need, this is a head scratcher.
I am uncomfortable that they are settling with the recent “Baz has the stuff to develop into a #1” combined with this.
Still time to fix this, the guys are still out there. If they settle, its not enough.
Yeah, I think it is impossible to fully judge this move right now since so much of the grade depends on where/how exactly he fits into the plans and that is far from clear right now.
#1 starter or not—I don’t think Eflin is a head scratcher either way.
This just tells me that they don’t want to rely on Young or Povich to make 32 starts again. If we end up having too much starting pitching depth—that’s an easy asset to dump off in July.
They could be cooking up a trade here too that involves Gibson, Young or Povich in the package as well.
Having Povich or Wells as any more than a spot starter is not a rotation that stacks up in the AL East. Wells can’t stand up to the starter’s workload and Povich can’t go through a lineup the 2nd time. I strongly prefer if they are bullpen only but inevitably someone misses a couple starts.
Like lots of people in the thread, I expect the Orioles will keep filling out the rotation. No big years for the top-end guys but somebody like Littell or Mahle is definitely possible on a short deal. Hey, they might pick up a couple guys on deals like that. New guy Rubenstein really wants to win, even if he isn’t getting into stupid money.
If it isn’t Imai on the FA front for a rotation pitching addition, I’d rather look at the trade market. I don’t want Framber, or Ranger…
Now that you mention him, I think that Valdez’s market might crumble to the point that a team like the Orioles could get him on a reasonable and short prove-it deal. Clubhouse arguments come and go but trying to hurt a teammate on the field is a really bad look.
Another possibility is the Japanese Tango – hm, that’s a strange thought – like we saw with the White Sox and Murakami. If enough teams aren’t sold on Imai’s numbers in the ridiculously pitcher-friendly Japanese league, he could fall all the way through to the Orioles on an affordable deal.
One of these pitchers market is going to crater. Gallen’s asking price is way too high. I’m betting he’s the one but perhaps we get multiple. (I’m not really seeing anything special with Gallen so I’m not sure I’d even want to bite there)
I’d be fine with Valdez if the market comes out lower than projected. I’d be ok with Suarez if groupthink takes over about his velocity and he’s looking at a short term deal. I would not sign him for any longer than 3.
They’re both ground ball pitchers and not necessarily ideal fits but the best fit for us was Cease and he’s gone. Both would improve the current mix. Valdez has been far more durable and has thrown innings like a TOR guy.
Why would anyone’s market crater? Spring training gets closer each day, more quality will be signed, and scarcity will generate moves.
I am pretty sure Boras would be happy if he was the agent for the only TIR type starter available on February 1 or 10, if that happens.
Because the ask is too much and the teams pivot to other options.
Nick Pivetta got a smaller deal later in the offseason. Almost every year there’s a guy whose market doesn’t materialize the way he had hoped. If Gallen is asking for 5 years this offseason—he’s going to wind up signing a 2 year deal in spring training with an opt out.
Bregman and Alonso signed short term deals very late just last year.
I still want a higher end guy than Baz or Eflin and definitely think we aren’t done pursuing one yet, but Eflin does at least provide pretty decent insurance if a deal for one doesn’t come together since he is one of the stronger 2026 bounceback candidates out there this offseason.
Great signing for the O’s. Innings filler
Knew him in high school he can sing and dance some who knew he could throw and catch a ball as well
Not a bad addition for the rotation. Framber Valdez would be a great addition.
Like the structure of the contract. Baltimore will be happy to pay the bonuses if he’s back to Tampa Bay form.
Can also see the O’s working a trade with Mountcastle or Mayo plus prospect or maybe 1 of their current starter set for a better starter if they can find such. Gotta believe they’re looking for such
Batlimore. Chram City. A drinking town with a baseball problem.
Where is “Batlimore” and what is a “Chram?” Is it you who has been drinking?.
Charm City !!! I heard it’s a great place. Hope to visit some day.
We were there decades ago and saw Frank Cashen and his wife walking to a game.
This is a fine deal and I would have been happy with it. I think the O’s still need to go get a true ace to make this offseason the A+ that it potentially has to ability to be
Given this news, I think Baz might be the big pitching acquisition for the Orioles.
When he’s injured he’s Elfin on the shelfin.
Healthy Eflin is a good signing. If anything was proven last season at Camden Yards, you can never have enough SP depth. That said, I’d like to see the O’s beef up the bullpen more than the Kittridge and Helsley moves. Sort of like what the Braves did with adding Suarez to Iglesias. Strong pens equal strong post season runs. If not a # starter, please Mr. Elias, add some more veteran depth to the pen! Can never have enough arms in this age of high spin injuries.
I dont like it because it feels like an “instead of” move. For all the talk that teams need 8 SPs, the Os may now have that and feel they have what they need. Also feels like if you have agreed to pay a guy 10M its probably not spot starter territory or fill in if there is an injury type of guy. Tough to add a 10M a year guy and then a 25 to 30M a year guy when you have Bradish Baz Rogers looking like 1 2 3 and Kremer Wells Povich Eflin looking like guys to fill the 4 and 5 slots. There are only so many active roster spots.
So in that sense I dont see a big FA SP being signed. Where I think they could still add a high-end SP is via trade where, despite what Elias has said, it could be challenging to get Mayo at bats and may be a waste when some team who may not be a serious contender could see value in letting him play every day. Then while you make that trade for an SP, a Povich Wells or Kremer could be added to a deal to sweeten the offer and make the roster fit by adding an SP and subtracting an SP.
I think Eflin could be a valuable piece and has a higher ceiling than other guys at his price so in that sense hard to criticize the move as a standalone move. It just has a little of the Charlie Morton this may work feel. After Alonso and Baz I am looking for more of a this should work this will work move. If this was it, I feel like they can contend for the playoffs but not be seen as a favorite. Win me one playoff game and I may be satisfied as an Os fan.
I would like to trade for Jojo Romero, the lefty reliever for the Cardinals. Could Mountcastle be used to acquire him? Mayo would be an overpay. I just don’t see a role for him. And I thought carrying a third catcher such as former Yankee Jackson would complete the bench (C Jackson, inf. Jackson, outfielders O’Neill and Taveras). Is Jeremiah Jackson not a good enough defender to be the utility infielder?
Eflin is capable of being a solid number 3 starter who at time can flash number 2 stuff leading to number 2 results. This he did his first year in Tampa after signing the three year pact with them.
The Rays were always going to trade him. It’s their thing and I dig it. If you’re a Rays fan you need to understand that it’s the team you adore, the players are just a means to compete.
It’s an intellectual’s team not a casual fan who chases player notoriety.
That all being said, Eflin is in a make or break year for his last possible multi-year offer being on the table in 2026/27.
If he has another meh year, he is gonna get half of what he is getting this year on another one year deal. I wish him the best but I believe he is plagued by small type nagging injuries that hinder him from reaching and maintaining his true potential.