Orioles trade three prospects for righty Eflin

The Orioles today announced that they have acquired right-handed pitcher ZACH EFLIN and cash considerations from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for minor league right-handed pitcher JACKSON BAUMEISTER, minor league infielder/outfielder MAC HORVATH, and minor league outfielder MATTHEW ETZEL. 

Eflin, 30, is 5-7 with a 4.09 ERA (50 ER/110.0 IP) with 115 hits (14 HR), 55 total runs allowed, three hit-by-pitches, 13 walks, and 87 strikeouts in 19 games, all starts, for the Rays. His 2.8 percent walk rate is the second-best among qualified pitchers in MLB this season behind Seattle’s George Kirby (2.6%), and his 5.0 walk rate since debuting in 2016 is the third-best among active qualified pitchers behind St. Louis’ Miles Mikolas (4.3%) and Los Angeles-NL’s Clayton Kershaw (4.7%). Eflin won a career-high 16 games for Tampa Bay last year, tied with Toronto’s Chris Bassitt for the most in the American League, while his 1.02 WHIP was the second-best mark in MLB behind New York-AL’s Gerrit Cole (0.98). He finished sixth in the AL Cy Young voting in 2023. The right-hander was originally selected by the San Diego Padres in the Supplemental First Round (33^rd overall) of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft out of Hagerty (FL) High School. He was acquired by the Dodgers as part of a five-player trade involving Matt Kemp on December 18, 2014, and by the Philadelphia Phillies in a three-player move for Jimmy Rollins on December 19, 2014. Eflin signed a three-year contract with the Rays in December 2022 that runs through the 2025 season.

Baumeister, 22, is 1-3 with a 3.06 ERA (24 ER/70.2 IP) with 53 hits (3 HR), 31 total runs, seven hit-by-pitches, 43 walks, and 91 strikeouts in 18 games, all starts, with High-A Aberdeen. He was selected by the Orioles in the Compensation B Round (63^rd overall) of the 2023 First-Year Player Draft out of Florida State University. Baumeister is ranked as the No. 17 O’s prospect and No. 6 Orioles pitching prospect by MLB Pipeline.

Horvath, 23, is slashing .232/.328/.417 (63-for-271) with 19 doubles, two triples, nine home runs, 40 runs scored, 41 RBI, four hit-by-pitches, 37 walks, and 26 stolen bases in 71 games with High-A Aberdeen. He was originally selected by the Orioles in the Compensation B Round (53^rd overall) of the 2023 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of North Carolina. Horvath is ranked as the No. 10 O’s prospect by MLB Pipeline.

Etzel, 22, is batting .289/.363/.445 (87-for-301) with 15 doubles, seven triples, six homers, 46 runs scored, 47 RBI, two hit-by-pitches, 36 walks (2 IBB), and 41 stolen bases in 83 combined games between Double-A Bowie and High-A Aberdeen. He was originally selected by the Orioles in the 10^th round of the 2023 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Southern Mississippi.

To make room on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher VINNY NITTOLI has been designated for assignment. Right-handed pitcher SERANTHONY DOMÍNGUEZ, who will wear No. 56, has reported and will take Nittoli’s place on the active roster. Outfielder CRISTIAN PACHE has also reported and will wear No. 26. Both Domínguez and Pache were acquired in a trade with Philadelphia earlier today.