The Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays had been busy late Thursday evening into Friday, as each American League East groups executed a pair of trades — together with one with one another.
The Orioles on Friday acquired pitcher Zach Eflin from the Rays in change for 3 prospects (outfielder Matthew Etzel, right-hander Jackson Baumeister and utility participant Mac Horvath).
Eflin, 30, spent his first seven seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies earlier than signing with the Rays previous to the 2023 marketing campaign. He was stable in a Tampa Bay uniform, persevering with a development that started within the Metropolis of Brotherly Love, so his addition ought to enhance Baltimore’s rotation.
Eflin, who was focused by the Boston Purple Sox in free company earlier than touchdown with the Rays, is 5-7 with a 4.09 ERA, a 3.65 FIP and a 1.164 WHIP in 19 begins (110 innings) this season. He completed sixth in AL Cy Younger Award voting final season, when he went 16-8 with a 3.50 ERA, a 3.01 FIP and a 1.024 WHIP in 31 begins (177 2/3 innings).
Story continues beneath commercial
Eflin is underneath contract via subsequent season, so this isn’t strictly a rental for the Orioles, who reportedly will owe the right-hander an $18 million wage in 2025. Clearly, the O’s perceive their World Collection window is vast open and thus are keen to dedicate monetary sources to augmenting the roster.
The deal for Eflin got here shortly after the Orioles introduced a separate commerce by which they acquired reliever Seranthony Domínguez and outfielder Cristian Pache from the Phillies in change for outfielder Austin Hays. Philadelphia, like Baltimore, is a legit championship contender and that swap might show mutually helpful.
The Rays entered Friday with a 52-51 file, putting them 4 video games again of the Kansas Metropolis Royals for the AL’s third wild-card spot. They sit behind the Purple Sox and Seattle Mariners, although, casting doubt over Tampa Bay’s playoff possibilities. Thus, the Rays determined to dump items.
A minimum of Seattle — 3 1/2 video games behind Kansas Metropolis — is inside hanging distance of the AL West-leading Houston Astros, as effectively. So, there’s incentive for the Mariners to purchase earlier than the commerce deadline, which they did Thursday evening in buying outfielder Randy Arozarena from the Rays.
Story continues beneath commercial
