Orioles bring back RHP Zach Eflin on 1-year deal

Field Level Media|published: Sun 28th December, 23:02 2025

MLB: Baltimore Orioles at Cleveland Guardians

Jul 23, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Zach Eflin (24) delivers a pitch in the second inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images

Free agent right-hander Zach Eflin re-signed with the Baltimore Orioles on a one-year contract with a mutual option for 2027 on Sunday night.

Terms were not disclosed, but MLB Network first reported that the contract is worth a guaranteed $10 million.

He became a free agent in November at the conclusion of a three-year, $40 million contract he signed while with the Tampa Bay Rays after the 2022 season. Eflin, who turns 32 on April 8, did not receive a qualifying offer from the Orioles.

The team's Opening Day starter in 2025, Eflin was solid to begin the season before a right lat strain in April. He was shut down in August to undergo a lumber microdiscectomy, a procedure that addresses herniated disks in the lower back.

Eflin was placed on the injured list three times in 2025, the latter two stints due to low back discomfort. He appeared in just two games in July. Eflin went 6-5 with a 5.93 ERA in 14 starts, yielding 18 home runs and striking out 50 with 13 walks across 71 1/3 innings. His WHIP of 1.416 was the highest of his career.

The Orioles acquired Eflin before the 2024 trade deadline.

The San Diego Padres selected Eflin in the first round (33rd overall, supplemental pick) of the 2012 MLB Draft.

For his career, Eflin is 68-67 with one save, a 4.28 ERA, 221 walks and 922 strikeouts in 1,073 2/3 innings over 200 regular-season games (188 starts) with the Philadelphia Phillies (2016-22), Rays (2023-24) and Orioles.

Eflin also is 0-1 with one save, a 4.12 ERA, five walks and 18 strikeouts in 12 playoff games (two starts) from 2022-24.

He finished sixth in the American League Cy Young Award voting in 2023, when he was 16-8 with a 3.50 ERA, 24 walks and 186 strikeouts in 177 2/3 innings in 31 starts for Tampa Bay.

Baltimore made room on the 40-man roster by designating rookie outfielder Will Robertson for assignment on Sunday. Robertson, who turned 28 on Friday, was selected off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Dec. 5. He batted a combined .129 (9-for-70) in 27 games for the Toronto Blue Jays and Chicago White Sox as a rookie in 2025.

--Field Level Media

Latest