Zach

Eflin

If all goes well, Eflin could be part of the season-opening rotation, but it’s also possible he’ll start off on the injured list. Eflin re-signed with the Orioles on Sunday after becoming a free agent at season’s end. He’s guaranteed $10 million next season, with a chance to earn up to an additional $5 million if he proves healthy.

According to FanSided’s Robert Murray, Eflin gets a $3 million signing bonus, a $5 million salary and a $2 million buyout on a $25 million mutual option for 2027. The price of both the option and the buyout will increase by $1 million with 15 starts next year, an additional $1.5 million with 20 starts and then another $2.5 million with 25 starts. So, a healthy 2026 spent in the rotation would guarantee him $15 million in all. After two healthy and productive seasons in 2023 and ’24, Eflin had a 5.93 ERA and a 50/13 K/BB in 71 1/3 innings last season. The 31-year-old is expected to be ready in the spring following back surgery in August.

Eflin, who was 26-17 with a 3.54 ERA between 2023 and ’24, is coming off a rough 2025 (6-5, 5.93 ERA in 14 stars) that included season-ending back surgery in August. Maybe he’ll rebound, but he seems more like a depth starter than a potential No. 2 or No. 3 at this point. As things stand now, he’s set to join a rotation that includes Trevor Rogers, Kyle Bradish, Shane Baz and Dean Kremer. That wouldn’t leave any room for Tyler Wells or Cade Povich, assuming that everyone is healthy.

Eflin hopes to have a normal offseason after spending the next few months recovering, but that’s not assured. The free-agent-to-be is probably going to have to settle for a one-year deal in the offseason after posting a 5.93 ERA in 14 starts this year.

Eflin underwent season-ending back surgery earlier this week. The procedural move frees up a spot on Baltimore’s 40-man roster for top prospect Samuel Basallo.

Eflin is slated for a lumbar microdiscectomy. Between that and the 5.93 ERA in 14 starts this season, he’s likely going to have to take a one-year deal in free agency this winter.

It’s starting to feel like Eflin won’t pitch again this season after hitting the injured list last week just prior to the trade deadline with back discomfort. The vibes certainly aren’t that positive and there’s zero reason for Baltimore to rush him back with nothing at stake.

This is the same injury that sidelined Eflin from June 29 through July 23. It would not be a surprise to see this keep him on the IL for another three or four weeks, which means he would only be an option in September if some team trades for him.

Rosenthal adds that Eflin is headed to the injured list with an undisclosed ailment, but one that is definitively not related to his arm. There’s a lot to unpack here, but it sounds like Eflin could still be dealing with a back injury that landed him on the IL just last month. The veteran is a free agent at the end of the season and could still wind up being shipped out ahead of Thursday night’s deadline to provide insurance for some team’s rotation in the final month or so of the season.

Eflin received nearly two touchdowns worth of run support from Baltimore’s offense, but couldn’t complete five frames to qualify for a win. He allowed eight hits, including homers to Nathan Lukes and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., finishing with three strikeouts and issuing one walk. He’s tentatively slated to take the ball on Sunday at Wrigley Field, but that will obviously change if he’s moved later this week at the trade deadline.