Veteran right-hander Zach Eflin is returning to the Baltimore Orioles on a one-year, $10 million contract, the team announced on Sunday, Dec. 28. The deal also includes a mutual option for 2027.
Eflin, 31, made several trips to the injured list surrounding his 14 starts for the Orioles in 2025 before undergoing season-ending back surgery in August. He posted a 6-5 record and 5.93 ERA in 71 1/3 innings, but was much more effective in 2024 − when he split time with the O’s and Rays and finished with a 3.59 ERA in 165 1/3 innings.
Eflin was the Orioles’ opening day starter last season, but he figures to slot in as a No. 4 in the revamped rotation.
Upgrading the team’s starting pitching was a major offseason goal for Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias after ranking 24th in the majors in ERA a year ago.
Baltimore has also made a couple of additions on offense, most notably the signing of free agent first baseman Pete Alonso to a five-year, $155 million contract.