The Baltimore Orioles acquired right-hander Zach Eflin from the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday, addressing their clearest need with an in-division trade that bolsters their starting rotation.
Eflin was regarded as one of the best pitchers available before the July 30 deadline, and the Orioles — who at 61-42 have the second-best record in the American League behind Cleveland (62-41) — turned to him with the sky-high prices for front-line left-handers Tarik Skubal and Garrett Crochet.
In return, the Rays received outfielder Matthew Etzel, super-utility man Mac Horvath and right-hander Jackson Baumeister.
Eflin, 30, has been a stalwart in the Rays’ rotation since signing a three-year, $40 million free agent contract with the team before the 2023 season. With Eflin’s salary set to jump to $18 million next year and multiple starting pitchers returning from injuries, the Rays made it clear to teams that he was available in a deal.
Baltimore, which has lost starters Kyle Bradish, John Means and Tyler Wells to Tommy John surgery this season, jumped at the opportunity. Earlier Friday, the Orioles swung a depth-for-depth trade with Philadelphia, acquiring right-handed reliever Seranthony Dominguez and center fielder Cristian Pache for outfielder Austin Hays.
In 110 innings over 19 starts this season, Eflin has a 4.09 ERA. His walk rate of 1.06 per nine innings is the second best among qualified major league starters, behind Seattle’s George Kirby. Eflin’s strikeouts have dipped significantly this season, from 9.4 per nine innings to 7.1, and he spent 15 days on the injured list with back inflammation in May and June.
To get Eflin, they dipped into their deep farm system. Because of the size of Eflin’s salary, the Orioles weren’t motivated to send Tampa Bay their best prospects. As they did in the deal that sent Randy Arozarena to Seattle on Thursday, Tampa Bay received a bulk return.
Etzel, 22, is perhaps the best of the group. A 10th-round pick out of Southern Miss in 2023, he has played all three outfield positions and is hitting .289/.363/.445 between High-A and Double-A this season.
Horvath, 23, went to Baltimore in the second round of last year’s draft after three seasons at North Carolina. He has played second base, third base, center field and right field at High-A this year and is hitting .233/.328/.417 with nine home runs and 26 stolen bases in 27 attempts.
Like Horvath, Baumeister, 22, was a second-round pick in 2023 who can run his fastball into the mid-to-high 90s. Though he has struggled with control at High-A, Baumeister has struck out 91 in 70⅔ innings pitched and sports a 3.06 ERA over 18 starts.
The Orioles could make more moves before the deadline, according to sources. They’ve discussed trading first baseman Ryan Mountcastle or center fielder Cedric Mullins, and would jump at the opportunity to acquire a front-line starting pitcher such as Skubal, whom Detroit has indicated it is hesitant to deal, or Crochet, who plans to shut down at the end of the regular season after his first full year back from Tommy John surgery — unless he receives a contract extension.
Jackson Holliday hits grand slam after returning to Orioles
Jackson Holliday returned to the Baltimore Orioles in grand style.
Hours after being officially recalled from the minors, Holliday belted a towering grand slam in the fifth inning of Wednesday’s 10-4 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.
It was the first career major league home run for Holliday, the consensus No. 1 overall prospect in baseball who scuffled earlier this season in his first crack at the big leagues.
Holliday, 20, rocketed through the minor leagues and was called up April 10 to join the Orioles’ elite core of young players. But he went just 2-for-34 with 18 strikeouts in 10 games before being optioned back to Triple-A Norfolk.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 draft, Holliday batted 271 with 10 homers, 38 RBIs and 75 walks in 73 games at Norfolk before travelling to Baltimore on Tuesday night and officially being recalled to the Orioles roster Wednesday morning.
“Just try to keep it simple,” Holliday said. “The last time I was up here, got myself trying to do a little bit too much.”
After grounding out in his first two at-bats against the Blue Jays, Holliday made the most of his opportunity with the bases loaded, blasting an 0-2 slider from right-hander Yerry Rodriguez well over the wall in right field to give the Orioles an 8-3 lead.
The 439-foot drive was so obviously gone that Holliday paused a bit before starting his trot, then waved to the crowd from the dugout.
“We saw him in spring. I think he hit a couple homers off us in spring too,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “I know it hasn’t started exactly how he wanted, but he’s (the) No. 1 prospect for a reason.”
Holliday is expected to slot in at second base after the Orioles’ deal Tuesday involving fellow rookie Connor Norby, who was traded with outfielder Kyle Stowers to the Miami Marlins for left-hander Trevor Rogers.
