The Baltimore Orioles are bringing back starting pitcher Zach Eflin on a 1 year, $10M deadline the team announced Sunday night.
Eflin’s deal features a mutual option for the 2027 MLB campaign as well as a $500,000 bonus if the club trades him in 2026. The 31 year old landed on the injured list three separate times in 2025 due to lat and back injuries, but was extremely effective in 2024 for the club going 5-2 with a 2.60 ERA across 55.1IP.
“I love this clubhouse,” Eflin told reporters towards the end of the 2025 season. “I’ve told pretty much everybody that we’ve had a conversation about that, I’ve told them I love this place. I’d love to be here.”
The right hander figures to slot into the clubs number 4 spot in the rotation, giving Baltimore a starting group of Kyle Bradish, Trevor Rogers, Shane Baz, Eflin, and Dean Kremer. If that’s the case, RHP Tyler Wells figures to shift into a long-relief or set up role in the team’s bullpen.
Baltimore also features LHP Cade Povich, RHP Brandon Young, and RHP Albert Suarez as potential depth pieces should the injury bug rear its ugly head again next season. That being said, the club has also been linked to free agents Framber Valdez and Ranger Suarez.
If the Orioles were to land either of the veteran pitchers, it would bolster a starting rotation which was 5th worse in the Major Leagues in terms of ERA (4.60), and 4th worst in WHIP (1.37) and opponent batting average (.259).
Baltimore has been amongst the busiest teams this offseason, adding power hitting 1st baseman Pete Alonso on a 5 year deal, and closer Ryan Helsley on a 2 year pact via free agency. The club also traded Grayson Rodriguez to the Angels for Taylor Ward, acquired Shane Baz from the Rays, and added LF Will Robertson and C Drew Romo off waivers.
All in all, the Orioles roster should look significantly different this spring than the one that stumbled to a last place finish in the AL East at 75-87.
Photo: Keith Allison. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.