The Orioles have reunited with Zach Eflin on a one-year, $10MM take care of a mutual possibility for the 2027 season. The crew has formally introduced the signing, and designated outfielder Will Robertson for task in a corresponding transfer to create room on the 40-man roster. Eflin is represented by O’Connell Sports activities Administration.
The $10MM assure breaks down as a $5MM wage, a $3MM signing bonus, after which a $2MM buyout on the mutual possibility. As a reminder, mutual choices are nearly by no means exercised by each events, so Eflin’s deal is for all intents and functions only a one-year pact. There’s some vital bonus cash concerned, as each Eflin’s buyout and possibility will improve by $1MM if he makes at the very least 15 begins, then by $1.5MM if he makes at 20 begins, and one closing improve of $2.5MM if he hits the 25-start threshold. The mutual possibility’s buyout can subsequently max out at $7MM.
Baltimore has been linked to a number of top-tier free agent pitchers this winter, and the O’s additionally simply swung a notable commerce to land a hurler with frontline potential in Shane Baz. The 32-year-old Eflin would possibly settle into the again of the rotation, particularly given his unsure damage standing. Eflin underwent a again surgical procedure in August that got here with a fairly broad restoration timeline of 4-8 months, so the truth that he has now signed a contract after 4 months maybe hints that his rehab goes easily.
The Baltimore Solar’s Matt Weyrich hears from a supply that the Orioles are hoping Eflin can “make his season debut early within the 12 months,” together with his ramp-up course of beginning “early in Spring Coaching.” As soon as Eflin is prepared, he’ll slot in because the fourth or fifth starter in a projected rotation that features Trevor Rogers, Kyle Bradish, Dean Kremer, and Baz. Tyler Wells had a line on a rotation spot however would possibly transfer right into a bullpen or swingman function as soon as Eflin returns. Albert Suarez is one other swingman candidate, plus Cade Povich, Chayce McDermott, and Brandon Younger are additional rotation depth choices within the higher minors.
If Baltimore nonetheless wished to make a splash by signing or buying and selling for extra of a confirmed ace, the Eflin signing doubtless isn’t an impediment. Given what number of accidents the Orioles rotation suffered in 2025, it’s no shock that the crew desires as a lot depth as doable to each cowl innings and ship high quality outcomes going ahead.
Eflin’s personal damage woes contributed to the Orioles’ well being issues, as lat and again accidents resulted in three separate stints on the injured checklist for the righty final 12 months. Eflin was restricted to only 71 1/3 innings over 14 begins, and he struggled to a 5.93 ERA and a 16.2% strikeout price. The righty’s 4.2% stroll price was nonetheless glorious, nevertheless, and since loads of the injury off Eflin got here by way of a spike in his homer price, his 4.49 SIERA was extra respectable than his real-world ERA.
This isn’t the primary time Eflin was affected by accidents, as persistent knee points bothered the right-hander earlier in his profession with the Phillies, although he posted strong outcomes when wholesome. In what counted as a major outlay for the low-budget Rays, Tampa Bay inked Eflin to a three-year, $40MM contract in the course of the 2022-23 offseason, and he ended up delivering the best two innings totals of his profession over the primary two seasons of the deal — 177 2/3 IP in 2023, 165 1/3 IP in 2024.
The sturdiness was backed up by a 3.54 ERA, 3.5% stroll price, and 23.1% strikeout price over these 343 innings, although Eflin’s Okay% dropped off significantly from 26.5% in 2023 to 19.6% in 2024. Because the Rays are all the time trying to trim the price range and reload with youthful expertise, Tampa dealt Eflin to the Orioles on the 2024 deadline, with the O’s absorbing the entire cash remaining on Eflin’s $11MM wage for the 2024 season and his $18MM wage for 2025. Whereas his 2025 marketing campaign was a wash, Eflin did pitch effectively down the stretch for the Orioles in 2024 to assist the crew attain the postseason.
Tampa Bay was the one crew publicly linked to Eflin’s market this winter, however he’ll now as an alternative return to one among his different former groups in his try at a rebound season. The Orioles know higher than every other membership in regards to the right-hander’s well being scenario, and the upside is apparent if Eflin can return to his previous kind. On the time of his season-ending surgical procedure, Eflin was additionally fairly vocal about his want to return to Batlimore in free company, and now his want has come true.
Eflin’s $10MM dedication brings the Orioles’ 2026 payroll as much as roughly $147.3MM, as per RosterResource. Because the O’s completed the 2025 marketing campaign with a payroll of roughly $160.1MM, there’s nonetheless extra room to spend for a crew that already made one of many winter’s blockbuster signings within the Pete Alonso contract. Baltimore may additional spend on a free agent starter like Ranger Suarez or Framber Valdez, or maybe once more tip into its minor league depth for an additional vital commerce.
USA In the present day’s Bob Nightengale was the primary to interrupt the information on Eflin’s one-year pact with the Orioles. The New York Publish’s Jon Heyman had the $10MM assured, and Andy Kostka of the Baltimore Banner reported that the element of the mutual possibility. FanSided’s Robert Murray had the wage breakdown and the details about the bonus construction.
Inset photograph courtesy of Gregory Fisher — Imagn Photos
