The Orioles have acquired right-hander Zach Eflin and cash considerations from the Rays in exchange for three prospects, per announcements from both clubs. Going to the Rays are outfielder Matthew Etzel, right-hander Jackson Baumeister and utility player Mac Horvath. Right-hander Vinny Nittoli has been designated for assignment by the O’s to get Eflin onto their roster.
Eflin, 30, has been a solid big league starter for many years, including his time with the Phillies and with the Rays as well. Since the start of 2018, he has allowed 4.01 earned runs per nine frames in over 800 innings. His 22.2% strikeout rate and 44.8% ground ball rate in that time were both close to league averages and he also limited walks to a tiny rate of 4.9%. Here in 2024, he has a 4.09 ERA in 19 starts. His strikeout rate is down to 18.9% but he’s also lowered his walk rate to 2.8%.
About a month ago, it was reported that the Rays could be looking to make some starting pitchers available, even if they weren’t sellers in the classically understood definition. They had a rotation consisting of Eflin, Aaron Civale, Taj Bradley, Zack Littell and Ryan Pepiot, with Tyler Alexander on hand as a depth option. On top of that group, they had Shane Baz, Jeffrey Springs and Drew Rasmussen each getting back to health after significant elbow surgeries.
As the overall group became healthier, the Rays were seemingly open to subtracting, as doing so could allow them to address other parts of their roster, save some money, bolster their farm system or some combination of those goals, and still keep a fairly healthy rotation for the stretch run. The most logical candidates for such a trade were Civale, Littell and Eflin as the three of them were slated for free agency after 2025. Civale was flipped to the Brewers a few weeks ago and replaced in the rotation by Baz, with Eflin now moving on as well.
The Baltimore rotation has been in the opposite position, as it’s been getting less healthy as the season has gone along. Each of Kyle Bradish, John Means and Tyler Wells required UCL surgery earlier this year, putting them out of action for the remainder of the campaign.
They still had a strong front two in the rotation with Corbin Burnes and Grayson Rodriguez, but there’s been far less certainty behind them. Prospects Cade Povich and Chayce McDermott were each given brief auditions but weren’t impressive. Dean Kremer has a serviceable 4.43 ERA but might be lucky to have that, considering his .227 batting average on balls in play. Albert Suárez has a 3.48 ERA but is a 34-year-old journeyman who is back in the majors for the first time since 2017. Cole Irvin has been moved between the rotation and bullpen due to inconsistent results. Bolstering that group is plenty sensible and it now looks much stronger with Eflin in it. Burnes is set to reach free agency after this season, so acquiring Eflin is also a notable move for Baltimore’s 2025 rotation.
In addition to the situation in Tampa’s rotation, an Eflin deal has seemed likely due to his contract. He signed a three-year pact with the Rays going into 2023, with the $40MM guarantee being backloaded. He was paid $11MM last year and is making that same amount here in 2024, with an $18MM salary for 2025. The Rays often trade their players before they reach free agency and slinking away from that large commitment in the final season of the deal always seemed possible.
The Rays are covering Eflin’s $1MM trade bonus but the O’s are otherwise absorbing the deal, per Jon Heyman of The New York Post and Matt Weyrich of the Baltimore Sun, both on X. That’s perhaps a notable development as the Orioles haven’t spent much money since their last competitive window closed. Per the data at Cot’s Baseball Contracts, the O’s had nine-figure Opening Day payrolls from 2014 to 2018 but haven’t been back to that level since then.
Some of the light spending has been due to the club rebuilding in recent years but their return to contention hasn’t led to a loosening of the pursestrings. The O’s haven’t given a multi-year deal to a free agent since Alex Cobb in early 2018 and the largest guarantee of any kind given out since then is the $13MM given to Craig Kimbrel on his one-year deal.
David Rubenstein purchased the franchise from the Angelos family earlier this year and it has been hoped that the ownership change would also lead to a change in spending habits. Perhaps the fact that the O’s are taking on an $18MM salary for next year is a sign that Baltimore will be operating differently from now on.
Turning to Tampa’s end of the deal, they are presumably saving at least a little bit of money while also adding three fresh prospects to their system. Baseball America just updated their list of the top 30 Orioles’ farmhands, with Horvath in the #13 slot and Baumeister at #18, through Etzel doesn’t crack the list.
Horwath, 23, was selected in the second round of last year’s draft. He’s hitting .232/.328/.417 in High-A this year for a 110 wRC+. He’s also stolen 26 bases while playing second base, third base and the outfield.
Baumeister, 22, was taken with a competitive balance pick last year, 63rd overall. He has made 18 starts at the High-A level this year with a 3.06 ERA and 29.5% strikeout rate, though a 14% walk rate. Etzel was a tenth-round pick last year and has slashed .289/.363/.445 for a 126 wRC+ between High-A and Double-A this year.
The O’s are 61-41 and tied for the best record in the American League but were heading into the stretch run with a flimsy rotation. They’ve strengthened it with a solid veteran, both for this year and next. They have subtracted from their farm system but it’s considered one of the best in the league and they held onto their top guys. Though the rotation is better than it was before this trade, it wouldn’t be a shock to see them add another arm. It’s also been reported that they could trade someone like Ryan Mountcastle or Cedric Mullins, though perhaps today’s trade of Austin Hays to the Phillies makes that less likely.
The Rays have added to their pool of young talent while shedding some payroll commitments, but still go into the final months of this season with a fairly solid rotation. Perhaps they are still hoping to compete but it also seems a more significant sell-off is in the cards. They traded outfielder Randy Arozarena to the Mariners yesterday and it’s possible that guys like Yandy Diaz, Isaac Paredes, Jason Adam, Pete Fairbanks and others could be available in the coming days.
Prior to this trade, Eflin was also connected to clubs like the Astros, Atlanta and the Cardinals. Those clubs will now have to look elsewhere for rotation upgrades in the coming days. Pitchers like Jack Flaherty, Yusei Kikuchi, Erick Fedde, Garrett Crochet, Tarik Skubal and others have been in rumors with varying degrees of availability.
Nittoli was just added to Baltimore’s roster less than two weeks ago and they will now have to either trade him or put him on waivers in the coming days. He has a 1.50 ERA in 12 big league innings this year between the O’s and the A’s.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic first reported on X that the O’s would be getting Eflin. Jeff Passan of ESPN reported the prospects going back to the Rays on X. Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com relayed Nittoli’s DFA on X.
Nice move.
Perfect buy low for my O’s!
Only $18 mil next year for a career 4.26 era pitcher, with a current war of .7. But it didn’t cost any major prospects. Solid move.
that is not really that bad. A meh inning eater with no upside is going to get 8-12m, I would peg him as getting something like that in FA market on a 1-2 year deal if he was a free agent (or more likely a 3 year 45m contract)
James, what’s interesting is that several were saying Taillon, who is pitching much better this year. And even the 2nd half of last year, was too expensive. Taillon’s salary is the same. $18 mil, just for 2 years.
i think that is actually a good comp for the tier i would place them in as FA. Taillon has more highs, but also more lows. Eflin is likely what you would be fine to get out of him year in and year out.
He is a weak #3 starter and exactly what you want from your #4. In FA- if you are expected to even make a rotation you are looking at 8m, if you can throw 180 innings with an ERA under 5- you are worth closer to 12m somewhere.
If an Efflin is somehow worth 3/45m, then Pivetta has to be licking his chops come this winter when he hits FA as see him as better FB and curve than Efflin, but still not dependable.. Like Efflin.
What may have been overlooked is O’s gave up last year’s 2 2nd rd picks. not saying either are/were top rated, but they saw enough to pay them a bit over 3m combined in bonus boney just 12m ago, so wasn’t a free get in Efflin.
Although both have talent, I’m glad the Phillies moved on from both Eflin and Pivetta, and for different reasons. Eflin’s knees were always an issue while in Philadelphia, and Pivetta needed to go somewhere else and grow up.
This is a reasonable deal for both sides. Although for where the Orioles are at, this is not about innings eaters. Rather it’s about “can this guy win playoff games”? Eflin is marginal or fringy in that regard.
Orioles are a good bet this year, for everyone except David Fletcher.
Everybody laughed at Manny when he said he wanted to be a comedian when he grew up. Nobody’s laughing now
-_-
Buy low?
Rays dealt from a position that is getting deeper. Taz & Shane M (next season) will be better or is better than Eflin is. Springs was also pitching better than Eflin before his surgery & is ready to pitch.
With Corbin/Grayson/Eflin, now they have their playoff staff. And it’s formidable.
He’s there 4 and Kremer is there 5
They still have work to do
Who’s the 3? Are you referring to Suárez? Factoring in big game/playoff experience; I’d be surprised if the O’s started him over Eflin in a playoff series
Hopefully he means another trade. I’m still hoping bigger game.
Bird land
“Their 3” not “there 4”
their*
I’m not that high on Eflin. Ok, in my mind, but a #3 is stretch.
Would you rather have had Taillon?
But Burnes Grayson is a great 1-2 and as good any anyone in MLB. Elflin gives you a shot to win on the 3rd pitcher day.. If they are done- fine…. but nothing they gave up here would have been the centerpeices of a trade for Skubal- the only SP that has a good chance of moving that is clearly better than Eflin.
Guess what ? Wrong .
The guy is a number 5 on a really really good day. Nice move for what. Useless and self mute worth comment. In my opinion.
Johnny Angel shows out to be the dumbest commenter in the thread. Must be a Taylor Walls fan.
Johnny doesn’t want another teams reason they aren’t where my team is. Effing is what I said he is and his numbers say it. Sorry to burst your swan song Stewart but Johnny says Flag yourself for your commonality.
Horrible take
The guy doesn’t walk and keeps games within reach and given our offense that is what we need without breaking the bank
Bird it’s horrible to you because you just got him. The guy is a 5 . Your owner is like his daddy . Cheap. Get ready for that 5 era to soar.
“Dean Kremer is over Zach Eflin in the rotation”
K
If he’s a 5 then he was the best 5 in baseball last year. Troll
Little boy decided to step into this with the troll line. My yawn is so wide it reaches john in real time.
Excellent move for an already stout team. O’s / Phil’s in the WS?
Narrator voice: “Meanwhile, in a dark, dingy basement Brian Cashman is huddled around a computer with stat nerds discussing the exit velo of another recently DFA’d player with a .089/.100/.150 slash line to fill the obvious void in the lineup…..”
Last season 2 WC teams made the WS. Temper the expectations.
Eflin is pretty mid and a good starter for the back end of a rotation.
I wouldn’t want him starting a playoff game but he is better than some of the other O’s options.
People keep wanting to O’s to go all in and trade some of their top prospects for elite pitching. They did to a certain degree for Corbin. Though he was a rental so the cost wasn’t too bad.
The O’s are clearly riding that line of staying competitive while keeping payroll down. It will be interesting to see what happens in the next 3 years. Will they extend any of their main players or will this turn into the Rays.
Interesting. I thought they needed a lefty starter but if it wasn’t Skubal not sure who that lefty starter would be. Efflin is good. Kind of expensive I doubt they gave up much in prospects to get him will see here soon.
I mean Snell’s name has been everywhere the last few days…
He’s really expensive. Who knows what the Giants expect for Snell. The Rays wanted Efflins salary gone I know that. It’s not like it’s the 31st still time for more deals.
The deadline is the 30th. I don’t know why it’s not the 31st like is has been damn bear every year since before last year. Which I think it was on Augist 1.
So it is. That’s silly.
Logjammah- the League likes to keep the actual TDL as close to the last Sunday in July as possible. The actual date is agreed upon and solidified in the Offseason, fwiw.
Snell has an opt out after this year. Not nearly as much as one would think.
Takes 2 teams to tango
6 innings of 2 hit 15 strike outs didn’t hurt him.
Snell has a $30M player option next year; nobody is trading for him.
Not everyone functions as a small market team. Dodgers, Yankees or even the Astros may be interested.
@Prsabroso
If the giants kick in cash. That contract is underwater right now, even for large market teams. He wouldn’t match it if he were a FA rn, let alone in exchange for prospects
Smells contract is maybe underwater. But there is value for a contender to not have to pay his salary for the first 4 months of the season and pick him up now. I wonder what the Giants expect if they do try to deal him.
They would have just signed him if they were interested.
Well he isnt signed to a one year deal.
Snell’s problem is he’s had the 2 CY seasons, seperated by 5y of mediocrity and the season after his last CY, just being awful.
Can pretty much count his last season’s FA negotiations emphasised on -0- else other than those 2 CY he won and attempted to negate all the rest of his career, which has been mediocre. nobody bought it and pretty sure he’ll be toiling in SF next year, after he opts into his 30m player option unless SF gives away a good prospect to rid themselves of him within the next few days.
Farhan and others should be thankful they paid attention to Snell’s career history and not just 2 outlier seasons.
You definitely are confused. Did you really say a player option has no impact. The players they would have to trade for him would be worth more than the draft pick. He wouldn’t be free. Please try not to think you are the smartest person in the room when you clearly are not.
His innings pitched and reliability. That’s where it comes from.
I was talking too sn33. Sorry it popped up under your comment.
Except the fact the Padres always pulled him when a runner got on after the fourth because they had no faith in him until last year.
You know how the luxury tax works? If Snell has $10m left on his contract the Dodgers have to pay at least $22.5m to get him. It also hurts their draft picks, what they can use in international markets and the qualifying offer. It’s not just the money that’s putative.
It most certainly was true. How do you think he threw back to back 120 inning seasons? Watched him pulled many times. Why do you think his interest was so low? In 202 he pitched 13.2 innings in 3 starts because they had little faith in him.
Pass!
@blackpink the rays are sneaky with trades, and the orioles have a decent system I’m sure it comes out even atleast.
they basically got a 22 year old long shot SP, a future utility guy and a 3rd guy it is hard to even call a prospect.
They did fine for basically trading away a guy who is making more or less what he should be.
@ james123 The third guy is a ptbnl.it’s usually not a bad deal because they get a list and can choose before the season ends.
I think Etzel just might be the big get here. He’s been killing it on the farm.
I think the Rays are doing good just by getting out of the rest of Efflins contract.
@blackpunk agreed maybe the angels get norby for estevez and a ptbnl. They need a 2nd baseman if they trade Drury for whatever, and rengifo for a package.
Rengifo I think brings back something nice. And relievers seems like they are going for a lot too. Angels certainly should make some moves in the next few days.
They need to trade Strickland and moore & money for something before the market dries up.
Moore hasn’t been very good so that’s not helping his value but there are a a LOT of teams that need relievers.
That’s why I said money whether that happens remains to be seen, but if they pay the rest of the salary they could get something. At this point they need to pay something for prospects for the fringe guys moore might be the only one because everyone else is about right.
Man you are obsessed with lefty starters.
Rays are the only team that no matter their playoff chances sells off every few years. Watch they still make the playoffs.
that is how they keep doing it. no one ever plays out their contract and walks with no compensation for the team. They have a few guys coming back from the IL, so the need the slots in the rotation. this still feels like a trade that they did the best the could with everyone knowign they were selling him.
I wonder what the return is maybe Connor norby?
No way Norby is going anywhere with Mateo being hurt for a while
No way Norby is going anywhere period.
Eflin is probably not getting Norby. Guessing it’s more of a quantity over quality return.
Yes he is
Ok dad.
You were right Ryno.
No shot it’s anyone even close to that good. Eflin making way too much money for that
Norby would bring back a Soto-esque return. No way they’d give him up for only Zach flippin’ Eflin
Norby would bring back a Soto type return, as long as they are adding Holiday, Mayo, etc.
3 minor leaguers not Norby who is currently in the majors. My best guess is 2 pitchers
One of these 3- Povich, McDermott or Seth Johnson
Second pitcher- one of these 3-Baumesiter, Luis DeLeon or Trace Bright
Third player is an IF- either Jud Fabian or Dylan Beavers
Beavers isn’t an infielder and you’re way off.
The original article didn’t list anyone so I was guessing. Beavers and Fabian are OF’s that was a typo. Did get Baumeister right. So 1 out of 3. Would have thought the Rays would have wanted another pitching prospect.
They listed the 3 prospects already.
Reading comprehension can be difficult!
http://www.RIF.org
you do realize MLBTR progressively updates these posts as details become available, right?
Dear Mr. Yeasties, could you please consider “un-muting” Mr. Fletcher? He has a message for you straight from his heart. I’m just playing ambassador, please don’t shoot the messenger.
Can you tell yeasties to unmute me? The prospects were already listed by the time geo made his guesses and I want to call yeasties an idiot for assuming the post wasn’t updated
A solid move by my O’s. Realistically won’t be an exorbitant cost either. But I also imagine the Rays maximize the potential of whoever they get in return, as they typically do.
I’m hoping Rays threw in some cash to firm up the secondary pieces.
You know the Rays would never do that.
They’ve done so on several occasions.
My joke about the Rays being cheap has failed.
I’ll take the L, fair play.
Did you know the Rays offered Aaron Judge 300 million to sign with them a couple years ago? So no, the Rays aren’t cheap.
Freddie Freeman. What a different world this would be if it had been anything other than a leverage play.
Plan B Mo…#do something
Can’t believe they gave up Holliday for Eflin! Jk.
I hope the rays get something good for my pain
This is all Wander’s fault.
Now we’re talking!
As a Rays fan… I’m loving life. Because we will be back next year with our ace back healthy and secondary ace back healthy. This little reset and stock pile of prospects is setting us amazing for the future! Orioles fans Eflin is a pros pro great get
As a Rays fan I have to wonder…where are you going to get offense? We just traded our best current hitter, and let’s face it most of this team is awful at the plate. We have Junior (well, hopefully at some point, yes I know he was injured), and I assume they will delay Carson Williams as long as possible…but we need help now, not in four years. And how many prospects even make it? Sorry, I disagree. The return on both of these trades–considering the needs of these teams and the control Randy and Eflin still have–has been quite underwhelming. Unless the plan is just to give up for the next couple years. (Do you have Springs as “secondary ace”? Because I don’t see it, as good as he has been; Ras is coming back as a reliever. And I am tired of watching Tyler Alexander get chances…three bad games, one good one, give him a chance! insert eyeroll)
An amazing future maybe when the new stadium opens in 2027 (or, just as likely, they end up all being bust pieces just like in the Snell trade). I expected players closer to the big league level for Eflin/Randy and not a pile of low A lottery tickets. As a Rays fan, this is not a good day as this is a significant shift from their normal type of trade that extends their competitive window. I had high hopes for 2025 when we’d get all our rotation pieces back, but, as Sideline notes, where is the offense going to come from now?
M’s and O’s making moves!
Nice. I’m a huge Eflin fan. He has ice water in his veins.
Os have him next year too and priced right. Perfect. Bradish, Means and Wells all back in 2026 and on the cheap. Os keeping pitching payroll down to go all out to extend Burnes?
I wouldn’t count on Means for anything anymore. Wells probably a reliever when he comes back too.
He will give 3 really good starts in 2 years just watch
Jeff;
What I wrote…..
With that O’s D all they needed was a veteran pitcher that could eat innings. Eflin fits.
Think they bring in at least one more starter as well as another relief pitcher.
Jeff – There’s less than a 1% chance Burnes resigns with the Os
Also I highly doubt they beating Means back. I don’t think he’s with the team in ‘26.
Etzel, Horvath and Baumeister. That’s an awful lot to give up IMO.
10, 17 and unranked in the Os system so we dont have to start Dean Kremer in the playoffs. Seems fair.
Can you honestly say Eflin is that much better than Kremer? Eflin is a 3/4. Kremer is a 4/5.
Etzel is an on the rise prospect. Rankings don’t tell the whole story.
Eflin is better AND they need pitchers to help win their division…. It’s not just about the playoffs it’s about getting there
Eflin has a much longer track record.
I’m not a big Eflin fan, but he is much better than Kremer.
Yes, Eflin is absolutely 100% definitely without a doubt better than Dean Kremer. Lol.
I guess you could’ve gone cheaper and got Paxton.
It’s a fair trade but it’s pushing the limit for Eflin.
But they can afford to part with those 3 and lets see what the starting pitching market is the next few days. Likely cost more even much more for better. Could go cheap and got Martin Perez for just 1 of those prospects or less or Marco Gonzales for 2 maybe or 1 and less. Really really cheap and just sign Rich Hill. Future trades will shed light on this one.
Nice. Would love to see the Orioles fly some banners. It’s been a long time.
Feel bad for tampa fans and cash.
Why they’ve been good for awhile and will be good again real soon. These players replacements might be better then them anyway.
I would not mind some cash.
Tampa selling like they should. Reload the farm system. Keep contending for a decade. Fans in general aren’t happy but they will be.
Reload the farm for 5 years in the future. I have no problem with that but if they do that they need to just trade everyone at this point and pull an Athletics type rebuild. I’m tired of being like the Angels, threading being competitive and mediocre. Yes they have a good rotation coming up IF they can all keep healthy, but it gets ugly after those 5-6 starters. The lineup is still a mess and these trades have not addressed any of those big holes. JC can’t change the whole offense alone. So it’s time to rebuild sooner than later.
This is full rebuild pretty much. You can’t trade pre arb players. No one wants to destroy their farm system to get them. Be happing just making playoffs. Hope you get lucky. Not good start rooting for NY LA.
Horvath was number 10 prospect in Orioles system. Was a toolsy second round pick who has 9 home runs and 26 steals this year. He is more than a “utility” guy.
That is exactly what Horvath is. He has played 4 different positions in each of the last 2 seasons.
O’s went the cheap route going for a back of the rotation starter
Then if they gave up Holliday Basallo Mayo for Skubal you’d say they got fleeced.
The other options on the market demanded a price they weren’t comfortable with. Thats not necessarily cheap. They simply didn’t overpay.
Yup. Nobody is afraid of Zach Eflin. He is a steady pitcher but eminently hittable. He doesn’t throw shutouts and he doesn’t throw innings. Weak sauce for Orioles. Unless they have another starter they’re targeting.
Please give us a list of pitchers that throw regular shutouts. I mean in 2024.
Sorry I just meant he is not going to shut anybody down. As in he always gives up runs every outing.
He throws a lot of groundballs and doesn’t walk anyone. He will help them down the stretch. Doesn’t throw shutouts is the kind of comment that makes no sense given the fact that no one does that anymore. He threw 180+ innings last year and is on pace for the same this year. It was a good deal for the Os and they gave up very little to get him so if Elias wants to make a few more moves he still has the players to do so.
Guardians fan here, boo wanted him
My prediction is CLE makes just one deadline trade, and that will be for Michael Lorenzen. Call it a hunch
These trades today better be Chris Archer parts 2 and 3.
Good trade for Baltimore. Those three prospects may pan out but the O’s won’t really be hurt by dealing them.
I think this is an excellent deal for the Orioles.
Absolutely !
I really liked Horvath and Baumeister, and Etzel has been moving up lists this year, but you pull the trigger on this deal every time, especially when your rotation is looking kind of barren next year. Now, we have GrayRod, Eflin, and Kremer as locks, with Povich, McDermott, Suarez, and Irvin as in-house candidates for the last 2 spots.
If Burnes is re-signed (doubtful, but maybe), even better.
Irvin shouldn’t be in consideration for a rotation spot anymore. I think he’s a non-tender candidate atp. Suárez looks solved right now too and I don’t think he’s under team control.
Tampa always makes amazing deals for themselves
Wrong Jackson, Rays were so close
They got a very good return, but they were never going to get Jackson Holliday.
Although he’s not as good, this makes much more sense than Taillon. Cubs have specific needs. Orioles aren’t in position to address without overpaying.
But the O’s stilllll need pitching if they intend to get anywhere in the playoffs. Eflin isn’t much of an addition in the playoffs.
I think he’s better then Taillon so that’s… uh… just like… your opinion, man.
The difference between Baltimore and Cincinnati management all too apparent. One decided to go fo it, once again the other did not.
I still think you guys are right on the cusp. So much young talent in Cincy right now, it’s only a matter of time.
One is clearly in the playoffs the other has a losing record. You have to pick when it’s your time and it’s not the reds time yet.
Here comes the sweep again in round one.
Talking about the Dodgers?
Lmao
Orioles #10 prospect in Horvath and #17 prospect in Baumiester. Great deal for Orioles for a back of the rotation starter.
Glad to see the Orioles picking up 2 pitchers today with ERAs in at 4.00 and 4.85.. they’re really improving
You really know ball. Where else can I find your amazing takes?
So you like pitchers with ERAs in the 4s 5s? sure maybe they can turn it around (it’s not impossible) but yep.. you know a lot about baseball
A is for Analytics
ERA, lol. Tell the 1980s we said hello!
Eflin’s estimators and pitch modeling are all fantastic. He never gets lit up. Perfect #3 with upside for the Os.
Ohh you’re one of those guys that thinks giving up a lot of runs doesn’t matter for a pitcher and thinks he’s Bill James.. yikes
Bill James, lol. Tell the 1990s we said hello!
More like Baseball_dunce.
Hello salary dump.
and hello last place. By the time the trade deadline is over, I am curious how many real major leaguers will be on this Rays club. They already have a few guys on the roster who are only acting the part.
Now that’s a great GM! They needed to make a move for a mid-rotation SP and did without touching his stash of prospect gold.
Any average gm can do that. Just there have been so many awful ones that somehow weren’t capable. One of the best though. Maybe the best.
I just don’t see Eflin as the “win now” 3rd starter that they need. He is passable but nobody is afraid of him. Do the Orioles have another starter they are targeting ? Because Eflin is more like a decent #4.
Now this, this move I like. Eflin by default makes the O’s rotation stronger. The earlier trade… meh.
I also doubt Elias is done. I’d be surprised if he doesn’t have at least two more deals incoming, for an additional reliever and starter.
God knows they need it. Baltimore pitching has been pathetic for almost six weeks.
Same thing as last year, Ellias never learns does he. Flaherty was supposed to “move their needle” and ended up getting moved to the bullpen by seasons end. They should stop prospect hugging and get a guy that can help them win a World Series. Guys like Eflin and Flaherty are 4th/5th starters, not aces like some on this site would lead you to believe. Orioles will win their 95 to 100 games and lose in the first round of the playoffs. A winner like Dombrowski knows when to pull the trigger. Guys like Ellias never even try to take any risks. One of the worst GMs in the game
You don’t know ball.
Wow you’re so right. I hope the O’s ownership is reading these comments and send you a job offer to replace Elias. You really do know ball. Incredible. Truly a genius.
Winstoner71 – in LFGMets’s defense he didn’t offer to replace Elias lol, But I fundamentally disagree with him nonetheless.
But he is a Mets’ fan, so he knows a lot. lol
LOL Mets fans says what? More clown talk
He already got that guy, Corbin Burnes. This is the guy we needed to fill the gap behind him. Last year we had no #1, Flaherty was a longshot chance at an at best legit 2 or 3. This is a move that sures up the rotation, anything in front of him would be expensive insurance. Now we need a closer.
Jack Flaherty sure did turn it around this year.
One more team out of the Flaherty race. C’mon Cards bring him back!
lol is this the Babylon Bee? Yeah, that O’s GM is awful! I mean, their record is bad, they have no good prospects, and the future is dim.
GTFOH
Jeez, I hope not. Lame ass attempts at satire are so sad.
Never before have so many owed so much stupidity to one MLBTR commenter.
Under Stuart Sternberg, the Rays have always been greater than the sum of their parts.
Good news for some NL clubs that want Fedde.
O’s may still get him.
Best offseason signing Getz made was getting Fedde at what has turned into a bargain for a salary.
Good for the O’s showing they have the balls to extend an already good season and expand their chances. Not like the Sox who dwells in the bargain basement for pitching.
Rays fans, what is behind his slight drop off this year? Statcast less red, ERA a bit worse.
They’ve said blister issues have affected his curve, cutter has been getting hit in the zone without the protection. He’s been less walk averse lately as a way to avoid some of that. bsky.app/profile/sandykazmir.bsky.social/post/3ky4…
He’s on a serious decline. They should have looked elsewhere. His knee won’t hold up past August
…which is what they said last year. I’d bet you if I could.
They said that when Ray’s signed him.
Slider_withcheese;
Yes…..
Like Realmuto’s knee would heal by August.
That is one I wish the Phillies would have taken back and made the deal, but good for the O’s.
Nice pickup and didnt cost too much in prospect capital. Now go get another starting P before trade deadline.
Solid pick up, without giving up much.
This and the previous pick ups feel like the Os are setting up some depth pieces to fill needs. But we might see something bigger coming up soon too. We needed maybe 2 arms to have needs fully addressed.
Good trade for the Os. They get depth for their rotation and lose some prospects who are OK but probably never had a chance to make the Baltimore roster in the next 5 years. Condlsolidating some depth from the minors
That system is so loaded they won’t even know those guys are gone!
Baumeister was arguably our best low minors pitching prospect. Not to say much but we might miss him. The other 2 were going to have a hard time cracking the roster in the next 3-4 years.
I like Eflin and it costs them a lot less than draining the prospect bank for Skubal. Nice deal.
Great haul for the Rays.
…in 2026 or 2027? Rays need guys now. Too many awful offensive players on this team, and we just traded our ace and arguably our best current hitter (I love Springs–but can you honestly just slot him into the ace role for the rest of the year???). So the rotation now–Taj, Baz (innings limit), Littel (who has come back to earth), Tyler Alexander (???), and…what, an opener? Until Pep comes back…and he will be on an innings limit. Seems like the RFO just gave up on this season and next. This offense is putrid, and there is no immediate help on the farm except for Junior (and who knows if they will ever bring Carson Williams up next year).
Who cares about rotation now. Start tanking for draft odds.
If this is the first of several pitching moves, fine.
But if Mike Elias is putting his feet up and lighting a cigar in triumph, it is much less fine.
Step off the ledge….
Relax and breathe…
It’s the second* of several pitching moves already.
4 days before the deadline. When most teams haven’t done anything.
If you’re just trolling, fine. But if you’re trolling with your feet up and lighting a cigar, this is much less trolling and more so just a bad take.
You misunderstand. Seranthony is not a starter. And my image was of Mike thinking he’d finished the job, when he obviously has much more work to do, including a solid #3,which Eflin isn’t, and a worthwhile reliever, which Seranthony also isn’t.
Mike has much more to do. If this is all he does then he has failed, though probably not as bad as Flaherty/Fuji last season.
That’s not me misunderstanding. Thats you saying pitcher, not starter.
Based on the rest of your reply, you don’t know ball. Good day sir.
your move, cashman
the return on these trades has been underwhelming to say the least. Um, the Rays need offense–NOW. Maybe these guys (and the M’s return) will be solid down the road, but it seems like these are just swings with the hope of not missing…three or four years in the future. Again, the problem is the Rays need help right now, not in three years. Heck, who is going to play??? Deluca and Siri are hardly MLB-level players (I love them both, but come on), Josh Lowe returned to his 2022 “form”, and the only OF at AAA who could see daylight is Misner. Seriously, no immediate help in the offing? (I was hoping for Ford from the M’s…which may be a stretch, but if a team needs a good hitter with a lot of control left, this does not seem out of line).
O’s M’s need offense now. Later for now is how most trades work. No reason for Rays to trade for now as their season is was over. 2025 they can sign or trade for whatever they need.
Sideline Redwine;
I know you’re a big Rays fan, but this is keeping in line with what they always do….
Trade a quality – not great – ML player where he’s pretty much peaked for them and has a higher salary then they can sustain. Get
a player or players that are young – one(s) most fans haven’t even heard of – and start developing them. Not all succeed, but enough
do to make the Rays contenders within a year or two.
Right now the Rays are a mess primarily due to the Wander Franco situation. They base their entire offense on 3-4 affordable, productive guys at the top of their lineup. He was not only the most important, but they thought he’d be there for years. Not sure the fallout is even over – has it been determined how salary they’re responsible for, if any? From what I understand a case is in the
DR courts right now that needs to be closed first.
Think the Rays are punting on 2025, and building for 2026 and beyond. Am not betting against them.
Prospects don’t win Championships. If they’re blocked in the MLB roster they or the starter is expendable.
Good move. Horvath has potential but not every prospect pans out. Good move as long as bullpen is addressed a little more seriously.
I expect another move for the O’s in addition to this unless they are looking to try out some younger rotation arms. Eflin is a good get no doubt, the price wasn’t too high though the guys going to the rays are exactly the types of players the rays get a lot of mileage out of, especially Etzel. So you have Burnes, Grayson, and Eflin locked in. You have to have something else in line for the 4th starter before you do a makeshift 5 slot in your starting rotation in my opinion.
Big time acquisition, you guys will love him.
– A Phillies Phan
Win Win. Seems pretty fair as expected. Baltimore didn’t trade any of their best prospects. Everyone they traded needs plenty of development still. They can all be easily replaced in any draft.
Tampa got good solid prospects with a nice floor ceiling combination. All 3 are doing well and on pace to make it to the show one day.
Trade Stowers already, let him have a career. Hes just rotting in AAA.
What kind of prospect do you think he is?
He’s 26 years old and behind 4 of 5 O’s OF’s younger than him in both the majors and minors.
Not saying he can’t be a successful ML player. But at this point his future looks like one of a 4th or 5th OF….maybe platooning.
A team in the dumper like the White Sox or Angels and not going anywhere soon would do well to get him as a part of a package. They can give him (and others) playing time over the next 2-3 years while they’re building a farm system. If he even becomes a solid 4th-5th OF they can get 2 decent prospects for him that will fit in with the youngsters they’re acquiring now.
Any other team and he probably already has 700 at bats. He’s an everyday major league ready player with nowhere to play. Another team will be lucky to snag him
Nice move for the O’s. I still think they need to add another pitcher
They can call the cubs for Steele. But will be a ransom coming back
WTF DO YOU TRADE TO A DIVISION RIVAL?!!!! THE ONLY WAY THIS COULDVE BEEN WORSE WOULD BE IF YOU GAVE HIM TO THE YANKEE$ FOR FREE!! $TERNBERG DOESNT DESERVE TO OWN A TEAM!
Wow your shrill hysterical shouting just triggered my PTSD, can we turn down the volume one notch please.
*BLOCKED*!
Ouch!
BECAUSE THE RAYS AREN’T CONTENDING IN 2024 OR 2025!
How many weeks have you been following MLB?
They have a chance in 2025 with their rotation as long as they can craft some kind of a lineup. I get it that they wanted to trade guys that are towards the end of their contract, I just can’t believe they would trade Eflin to a team in their division.
And to answer your question, about 1,664 weeks, as I’ve been following since around 1992.
The Rays are not and were not fixing their lineup. Their lineup was playing way above their heads at the start of last season. Floor was due to inevitably drop. And the loss of Wander was just insurmountable.
They are now in rebuild which is where they need to be. Trading a high paid back of rotation arm that’s signed through next season really has no impact on the Rays.
Seems like just a money move by the Rays, but, jeez, doing it with a team in your own division is odd unless Baltimore was the only team interested in taking on the contract.
I like it both ways. This increases their chance for finishing 1st in their division, while not being so expensive that they won’t be able to make another huge move.
“I like it both ways” whoah Joe this isn’t your Catholic confessional. TMI my man.
Love the move, O’s!
I completely expect at least one of the guys they got back to make us regret the trade to some degree in the coming years but you make this move 10 times out of 10. Eflin was low-key one of the best starters available and we got him for the rest of this year and next year for a package headlined by our 10th-ish best prospect (Horvath). Good stuff.
One more SP upgrade should put them over the top in the AL.
Why oh why are we stuck with Neander and Cash. This duo really don’t seem to know how to use their players in trades or on the field. Yeah both Arozarena and Eflin have warts but still solid players that should have brought back better. Another case of Rays outsmarting themselves. Stu must have told them to take whatever money to save the money.
In 2 years can they change their names to the Tampa Bay Utilities?
Better Tango and Cash
Good move for both teams. Rays shed payroll and get some prospects and Orioles pick up a nice 3rd / 4th starter without giving up any of their top 10 prospects. These are the types of moves that will help them. While another top of rotation arm is nice, they have the bats where they don’t need pitchers to give up only 1 run a game.
“Without giving up too much”
Rays get there’s almost everytime ! Don’t ever forget that. If holiday turns out to be a bust and these guys are making all star appearances for rays in a few years – that’s status quo for rays trades
Mid rotation guy with a year of team control who really isn’t overly expensive who didn’t cost a major league piece or a top prospect. Good move for the Orioles looking to add rotation pieces. Decent move for Rays who are shedding some salary and regrouping. Surprised the Rays let him go to a division rival.
Absolutely LOVE this move. We get a major rotation upgrade with another full year of control to help guard against Burnes departing in free agency, and didn’t give up any of our top shelf prospects.
The Rays got a nice return though, Horvath and Baumeister are both solid prospects and Etzel is a big helium guy this year. It wouldn’t shock me at all if this eventually goes down as yet another “Rays seemingly take lesser prospects but still win the trade in the end” kind of deal.
We? Are you the clubhouse attendant?
Great work as always Cbe, thank you for your service
And here I was giving you credit for pregnant. For why she referred to it as we
Feel like the comment section got drunk tonight
Zach was surprisingly good in Neighbors, even better in Greatest Showman.
This is just an ok move by the Orioles. Eflin is solid number 3 / 4 starter, that fits in the middle of the rotation. He will not impact the playoffs in a good way the Skubal would have. I think the Orioles missed the boat on making this a better playoff roster. When the O’s get knocked out in the first or second round of the playoffs, there management and fans will realize they should have gone after Skubal, regardless of which prospect they had to give up.
I agree, holiday and kjerstad for skubal is a win win for both franchises. Os have the organizational depth to part with such talent as well
The Rays actually intended to move Eflin for a reasonable return, the Tigers do not actually intend to move Skubal unless someone offers a crazy overpay, so I am perfectly fine with 1.5 years of Eflin plus still having all of Holliday, Kjerstad, Basallo, and Mayo rather than 2.5 years of Skubal and losing 1 or (more likely) 2 of Holliday, Kjerstad, Basallo, and Mayo.
And burnes. Don’t forget you are about to loose your ace too. So looking back 20 years from now, you sure it won’t be worth it to take advantage of this window?
This is classic Rays. They take 3 guys nobody outside Os fans have heard of and 2 of them become stars. These 3 guys are the next wave of Os prospects and the Rays took them all. Glad they left Bradfield alone at least
Rays plucked 6 players from the 2 deepest systems in baseball. Rays do what rays do !
It would be an awesome move to secure Skubal but the Tiger’s price is too high and rightly so. The O’s are a first place team at the moment and even though they have been slumping , they were in first place also before they made these moves. They do not have to empty a few top prospects at this time to get a pitcher who may be the best one baseball this year. Remember this is the first year Skubal has been this good and who knows what he will be going forward. To me trading for pitching is always a gamble no matter who you go after. The Tigers have a ton of leverage here but so do the O’s
Baltimore’s front office needs to be looking at the future as well as 2024. Right now, their top of the rotation in 2025 is Rodriquez, Eflin, and Kramer. Will that win, I doubt it. They will likely have to trade prospects in the offseason to get more pitching. Trade prospects now or in the off season. Some are going to have to be moved.
Sign an SP in the offseason and now it’s Grayson, Eflin, FA SP, Kremer, and one of Povich, McDermott, Suarez, and Irvin to start the 2025 season, plus plenty of prospect capital left to again add to the rotation at the deadline, PLUS Bradish and/or Wells potentially returning from injury late in the year.
I don’t really see much reason to worry right now.
Realistically we need to sign 2 pitchers in the offseason. Irvin is a no. I think he’s traded or non tendered this offseason. Suárez is he even under control? I’m not sure how his contract works since he was overseas but I’d feel much better with him being a depth starter rather than an original starting 5 member. Cracks are showing there.
I think McDermott is ultimately going to wind up as a good reliever. Povich could step up and take a spot but as we’ve seen this year—-nothing wrong with extra depth.
I’m not too worried about the 5th starter in April and May when they can be skipped a few times anyway. As long as we add one legitimate TOR-ish SP to slot into the top 3 with GrayRod and Eflin, I’ll be pretty satisfied with the OD rotation.
And I would assume normal service time rules apply to Suarez, but if not, he could easily be brought back for like a mil or less for 1 year as depth in the pen.
That’s a fair point. I’d just feel better going into the season with a solid 5-man. We had 6 starters this offseason and look where we are now. Injuries have crushed us and we don’t have the minor league pitching depth in place.
I think it’s a slippery slope penciling in a Suárez & Irvin in the offseason as the #5. Couple injuries and those 2 are right in the middle of your rotation.
I would consider GrayRod, Eflin, FA TOR SP, Kremer, and one of Povich, McDermott, Irvin, and Suarez to be a solid 5 man with solid depth, especially since adding at the deadline won’t be a problem resource-wise and Bradish and/or Wells might be a factor late in the year.
Yeah if it’s a TOR type. Irvin and Suarez being out of options isn’t ideal though. I doubt both are on the roster next year. Both are best suited to be long men/depth starters.
I’m not expecting Wells to ever rejoin the rotation and I’d prefer to have excess over a shortage. Those extra starters tend to be needed and I think that there’s some good bullpen possibilities w/ Johnson & McDermott.
I don’t expect Elias to spend $$ on the pen this offseason either. He likes to do it on the cheap. I could see both those guys sliding in and potentially being very good.
hockeyjohn;
No one ever brings this up……
Might the O’s sign a name FA pitcher in the 24-25 offseason?
Have you any idea how attractive signing a multi-year contract to play for them is to a pitcher? Go beyond even one year in today’s MLB and a pitcher can get stuck with team that doesn’t have quality young players that will be coming up for years and getting better. One major injury can scuttle a team that looked good going into the season. Look at the Brewers – a terrific young team. Christian Yelich started playing like himself and they were running away with the NLC crown. Whoops. He’s out with a bad back (again). They have no one that can replace his production. These things happen.
But… But… They’re not supposed to trade to their division rivals.
Anything that helps beat the Yankees.