Ex-Red Sox Target Traded In Pre-Deadline AL East Shakeup

The Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays were busy late Thursday night into Friday, as both American League East teams executed a pair of trades — including one with each other.

The Orioles on Friday acquired pitcher Zach Eflin from the Rays in exchange for three prospects (outfielder Matthew Etzel, right-hander Jackson Baumeister and utility player Mac Horvath).

Eflin, 30, spent his first seven seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies before signing with the Rays prior to the 2023 campaign. He was solid in a Tampa Bay uniform, continuing a trend that began in the City of Brotherly Love, so his addition should boost Baltimore’s rotation.

Eflin, who was targeted by the Boston Red Sox in free agency before landing with the Rays, is 5-7 with a 4.09 ERA, a 3.65 FIP and a 1.164 WHIP in 19 starts (110 innings) this season. He finished sixth in AL Cy Young Award voting last season, when he went 16-8 with a 3.50 ERA, a 3.01 FIP and a 1.024 WHIP in 31 starts (177 2/3 innings).

Eflin is under contract through next season, so this isn’t strictly a rental for the Orioles, who reportedly will owe the right-hander an $18 million salary in 2025. Clearly, the O’s understand their World Series window is wide open and thus are willing to devote financial resources to augmenting the roster.

The deal for Eflin came shortly after the Orioles announced a separate trade in which they acquired reliever Seranthony Domínguez and outfielder Cristian Pache from the Phillies in exchange for outfielder Austin Hays. Philadelphia, like Baltimore, is a legitimate championship contender and that swap could prove mutually beneficial.

The Rays entered Friday with a 52-51 record, placing them four games back of the Kansas City Royals for the AL’s third wild-card spot. They sit behind the Red Sox and Seattle Mariners, though, casting doubt over Tampa Bay’s playoff chances. Thus, the Rays decided to sell off pieces.

At least Seattle — 3 1/2 games behind Kansas City — is within striking distance of the AL West-leading Houston Astros, as well. So, there’s an incentive for the Mariners to buy before the trade deadline, which they did Thursday night in acquiring outfielder Randy Arozarena from the Rays.