The Orioles got the right hand Zach Eflin and consideration of money from the Rays in exchange for three prospects, with announcements from both clubs. To the outer Rays Matthew Etzelthe right hand Jackson Baumeister and a helper player Mac Horvath. The right hand Vinny Nittoli was assigned by the O's to add Eflin to their roster.
Eflin, 30, has been a major league starter for many years, including his time with the Phillies and Rays. Since the start of 2018, he has allowed 4.01 runs per nine frames in over 800 innings. His 22.2% strikeout rate and 44.8% ground ball rate during that span were both close to league averages and he limited his walks to a paltry 4.9%. Here in 2024, he has a 4.09 ERA in 19 starts. His strikeout rate dropped to 18.9% but he also lowered his walk rate to 2.8%.
About a month ago, it was reported that the Rays might be looking to make other starting pitchers available, even if they weren't tradesmen in the strictest sense. They had a rotation that included Eflin, Aaron Civale, Hello Bradley, Zack Littell again Ryan Pepiotwith Tyler Alexander in hand as a way to deepen. On top of that group, they had it Shane Baz, Jeffrey Springs again Drew Rasmussen each returning to health after major elbow surgery.
With the rest of the team getting healthy, the Rays seemed open to making a move, as doing so would allow them to address other parts of their roster, save money, strengthen their farm system or some combination of those goals, and remain healthy. extended running rotation. The most reasonable people in the trade were Civale, Littell and Eflin as all three were scheduled to be granted free agency after 2025. Civale was traded to the Brewers a few weeks ago and replaced by Baz, with Eflin now moving on. like that.
Baltimore's rotation was in a different spot, as it dwindled as the season progressed. Each of the Kyle Bradish, John Kusho again Tyler Wells required UCL surgery earlier this year, sidelining him for the rest of the campaign.
They still had two strong forwards in the rotation with Corbin Burns again Grayson Rodriguez, but there is very little certainty behind them. Hopes Kade Povich again Chayce McDermott each was given short auditions but failed to impress. Dean Kremer he has a serviceable ERA of 4.43 but would be lucky to have that, considering his .227 batting average on balls in play. Albert Suárez he has a 3.48 ERA but is a 34-year-old journeyman who is back in the majors for the first time since 2017. Cole Irvin moved between the rotation and the barn due to inconsistent results. Strengthening that team makes sense and now it looks even stronger with Eflin in it. Burnes will reach free agency after this season, so getting Eflin is also a significant step for Baltimore's 2025 rotation.
In addition to the state of Tampa's rotation, the Eflin deal seemed possible because of his contract. He signed a three-year deal with the Rays through 2023, with a guaranteed $40MM reload. He was paid $11MM last year and makes that amount in 2024, with an $18MM salary for 2025. The Rays often trade their players before they hit free agency and back away from that big deal in the final season of the deal. it always seemed possible.
The Rays included Eflin's $1MM trade bonus but the O's took the deal, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post and Matt Weyrich of the Baltimore Sun, both on X. That's perhaps as significant an improvement as the Orioles haven't used. a lot of money since their last competitive window closed. According to Cot's Baseball Contracts data, the O's had nine Opening Day leadoff hits from 2014 to 2018 but have not returned to that level since.
Some of the spending spree has been caused by the restructuring of the club over the years but its return to contention has not led to a loosening of the reins. The O's haven't offered a multi-year contract to a free agent since Alex Cobb in early 2018 and the largest guarantee of any kind given since then is the $13MM given Craig Kimbrel on his one-year contract.
David Rubenstein bought the franchise from the Angelos family earlier this year and it is hoped that the change in ownership will lead to a change in the way money is spent. Perhaps the fact that the O's are getting $18MM in salary next year is a sign that Baltimore will operate differently from now on.
Turning to Tampa's end of the deal, they likely saved at least a little money while adding three new prospects to their roster. Baseball America recently updated its list of the top 30 farm workers for the Orioles, with Horvath in the #13 slot and Baumeister at #18, with Etzel not making the list.
Horwath, 23, was selected in the second round of last year's draft. He is hitting .232/.328/.417 in High-A this year with a 110 wRC+. He also stole 26 bases while playing second base, third base and the outfield.
Baumeister, 22, was a competitive pick last year, 63rd overall. He made 18 starts at the High-A level this year with a 3.06 ERA and a 29.5% strikeout rate, though a 14% walk rate. Etzel was a 10th round pick last year and slashed .289/.363/.445 with a 126 wRC+ between High-A and Double-A this year.
The O's are 61-41 and tied for the best record in the American League but have come a long way in the past. They have strengthened it with strong veterans, this year and next year. They've gotten rid of their farm system but it's considered one of the best in the league and they're holding on to their top guys. While the rotation is better than before this trade, it wouldn't be surprising to see them add another arm. It was also reported that they could trade someone like him Ryan Mountcastle or Cedric Mullinsalthough perhaps today's trade of Austin Hays for the Phillies it makes that less likely.
The Rays have added to their pool of young talent while shedding some payroll commitments, but still enter the final months of this season with a strong rotation. Perhaps they still hope to compete but it also seems that a significant sale is on the cards. They traded a foreign player Randy Arozarena at the Mariners yesterday and it's possible that the boys like it Yandi Diaz, Isaac Paredes, Jason Adam, Pete Fairbanks and others may be available in the coming days.
Before this trade, Eflin was linked with clubs like the Astros, Atlanta and the Cardinals. Those clubs will now have to look elsewhere to develop a rotation in the coming days. Pots like it Jack Flaherty, Yusei Kikuchi, Erick Fedde, Garrett Crochet, Tarik Skubal while others have been rumored with varying degrees of availability.
Nittoli was just added to Baltimore's roster less than two weeks ago and now they will have to trade him or waive him in the coming days. He has a 1.50 ERA in 12 major league innings this year between the O's and A's.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic first reported on X that the O's would acquire Eflin. ESPN's Jeff Passan reported the hopes of returning to the Rays in X. Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com reported Nittoli's DFA to X.
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