Back with O's on 1-year deal, Eflin eager to 'show what I really am'

BALTIMORE -- As the Orioles continue to bolster their rotation depth for the 2026 season, they have reunited with a familiar arm who has been added back to the starting mix -- one eager to go out and prove what he's still capable of.

On Sunday night, Baltimore signed right-hander Zach Eflin to a one-year Major League deal with a mutual option for 2027. The contract is worth a guaranteed $10 million, a source told MLB.com.

Eflin was one of many O’s players whose 2025 season was marred by injuries. The 31-year old had three stints on the injured list due to a right lat strain (April 8-May 11) and low back discomfort (June 29-July 23; July 29-end of season), and he underwent a lumbar microdiscectomy on Aug. 18.

"These guys wanted me back after missing all those starts and having an arm injury and having a back surgery. I get a chance to go back and show what I really am," Eflin said in a Zoom call with the Baltimore media on Monday evening. "That's what I'm really excited for."

After beginning to throw in early November -- and scheduled to have his first bullpen session on Jan. 6 -- Eflin is hopeful he could have a normal Spring Training and be ready to go for Opening Day. However, it’s possible the Orioles will be cautious with him in camp, as that is how the club has often operated with players coming off injuries in recent years (especially on the pitching side).

But Eflin is optimistic about how his back has been recovering in the 4 1/2 months since his surgery.

"I feel better than I ever have in my life," Eflin said.

In between trips to the IL, Eflin recorded a 5.93 ERA in 14 starts this past season, which began with him as the O's Opening Day starter. However, the 10-year big league veteran acknowledged he was later trying to pitch through the discomfort in his lower back, which became a prolonged issue.

Baltimore knows Eflin is capable of better. The O’s acquired the righty in a deal with the Rays prior to the 2024 Trade Deadline, and he then pitched to a 2.60 ERA in nine outings down the stretch.

Eflin helped the Orioles finish 91-71 and secure an American League Wild Card berth in 2024. Then he tossed four innings of one-run ball in Baltimore’s season-ending loss vs. Kansas City in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series.

Previously, Eflin pitched for the Phillies (2016-22) and Rays (2023-24). His best season came with Tampa Bay in '23, when he went 16-8 with a 3.50 ERA in 31 starts and placed sixth in AL Cy Young Award voting.

Prior to re-signing Eflin, the Orioles’ first move to upgrade their rotation was a trade with the Rays for right-hander Shane Baz. Here’s how Baltimore’s starting-pitching landscape stood:

1. RHP Kyle Bradish
2. LHP Trevor Rogers
3. RHP Shane Baz
4. RHP Dean Kremer
5. RHP Tyler Wells

Depth: LHP Cade Povich, RHP Brandon Young, RHP Albert Suárez

If Eflin is ready to go for the start of 2026, then he could slot in between Baz and Kremer at No. 4, with Wells potentially shifting to the bullpen.

The group becomes much deeper with the return of Eflin, who can log innings and was often lauded for his leadership skills in Baltimore. He also enjoyed his stint with the O’s, making his return not too surprising.

“It wasn’t a secret or anything: I wanted to come back," Eflin said. "I love the guys on the team, I love the staff, I love the front office. It’s such a fun place to go to work every day."

And now, Eflin is here, for at least one more season (and possibly two).

Is this the end of the Orioles’ pursuit of starting pitching? Possibly not.

The O’s have been linked to top free-agent starters such as left-handers Framber Valdez and Ranger Suárez, having reportedly met with the former at the General Managers Meetings in Las Vegas in mid-November. President of baseball operations Mike Elias has made it known he’d be shopping in the upper tiers of the free-agent pitching market.

Baltimore has stayed busy this winter, having upgraded its lineup (sluggers Pete Alonso and Taylor Ward), its bullpen (closer Ryan Helsley and setup man Andrew Kittredge), its bench (veteran center fielder Leody Taveras) and now its rotation (Baz and Eflin). But the O’s should continue to be aggressive as they look for a turnaround 2026 season following their disappointing 75-87 '25 campaign.

"I think the moves have been great. I mean, you’re adding to a team that’s already so talented," Eflin said. "The moves that they've made, it's a win-now thing. We want to win the World Series, and everybody on the team knows that. Clearly, they're making it obvious that we're going to make a run at this thing. So it was very attractive to come back."